House Bill No. 5474, titled "An Act Concerning Social Media Platforms and Minors," seeks to enhance the safety and mental health resources available to minors on social media platforms. Effective October 1, 2025, the bill requires social media platform owners to establish an online safety center by January 1, 2026, which will provide resources to prevent cyberbullying, report harmful behavior, and educate users about the impact of social media on mental health. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a cyberbullying policy and introduces new definitions and requirements regarding the processing of minors' personal data, including a prohibition on using such data for targeted advertising or profiling without consent. The definition of "heightened risk of harm to minors" is expanded to encompass potential physical or mental health risks.

The bill also imposes stricter regulations on unsolicited communications and features that may increase minors' usage of social media platforms. It requires that any online service with direct messaging capabilities have default settings that prevent adults from contacting minors they are not connected to. Furthermore, it prohibits design features that could significantly increase minors' usage without prior consent from their guardians. The Attorney General is granted the authority to require controllers to disclose their risk mitigation plans if relevant to an investigation. Notably, educational entities are exempt from certain restrictions, ensuring that services used under their direction are not unduly affected. The bill repeals certain existing provisions and replaces them with updated language to align with these new requirements, thereby enhancing protections for minors in the digital space.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 42-529
KID Joint Favorable: 42-529
File No. 184: 42-529