The bill amends the Social Media Safety Act in Arkansas to enhance protections for minors using social media platforms. It introduces new definitions, such as "account holder," which refers to individuals managing an account, and expands the definition of "Arkansas user" to include those accessing social media via virtual privacy networks. The bill also establishes that a "minor" is anyone under sixteen years of age and mandates social media platforms to implement measures to prevent addiction and compulsive behaviors in minors, including limiting notifications during specific hours and providing parental monitoring tools.

Additionally, the bill strengthens enforcement mechanisms related to age verification and parental consent, allowing parents to initiate civil actions against non-compliant platforms and increasing penalties for violations from $2,500 to $10,000 per incident. It establishes the Crimes Against Children Fund to collect fines and support investigations related to the Social Media Safety Act. The bill also requires platforms to implement technological measures to prevent minors from bypassing age verification and includes a severability clause to maintain the enforceability of remaining provisions if any part of the act is deemed invalid. The act will take effect one year after its enactment.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB611 Original - 4-2-2025 04:09 PM: 4-88-1401, 4-88-1402, 4-88-1403(b), 4-88-1403(c)
Old version SB611 V2 - 4-10-2025 09:38 AM: 4-88-1401, 04-10-2025, 4-88-1402, 4-88-1403(b), 4-88-1403(c)
SB 611: 4-88-1401, 4-88-1402, 4-88-1403(b), 4-88-1403(c)
Act 900: 4-88-1401, 04-10-2025, 4-88-1402, 4-88-1403(b), 4-88-1403(c)