Substitute House Bill No. 6857 seeks to enhance the protection of minors on social media platforms by establishing regulations for "covered operators." The bill defines key terms such as "covered minor," "covered operator," and "media item," and prohibits operators from allowing users under eighteen to access certain media without verifiable consent from a parent or guardian. It requires operators to implement reasonable age verification methods, delete age-related information after use, and restrict notifications to minors to specific hours unless parental consent is obtained. Additionally, the bill mandates default settings that limit minors' access to media recommendations to a maximum of one hour per day and provides mechanisms for parents to customize these settings.

The legislation also requires covered operators to disclose annual statistics regarding user consent and platform usage, including the number of minors who received parental consent and average time spent on the platform. Violations of these provisions will be classified as unfair or deceptive trade practices under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. The bill clarifies that age verification is not necessary for certain media items and prohibits operators from degrading service quality or increasing prices due to compliance with these regulations. It aims to create a safer online environment for minors while ensuring that operators adhere to the new guidelines, with the bill set to take effect on July 1, 2026.