The Social Media Parental Authorization Act establishes requirements for social media companies regarding minors creating accounts on their platforms. Under this bill, a social media company must obtain prior express parental authorization before allowing a minor, defined as an individual under the age of eighteen residing in Iowa, to create an account. The bill outlines that parental authorization can be provided through a written statement or a digital authorization verified by the social media platform. Additionally, the bill mandates that companies must allow parents or guardians to revoke this authorization at any time and prohibits the collection of data from minors without such authorization.

The bill also includes enforcement provisions, allowing the attorney general to bring civil actions against companies that violate these requirements, with penalties of up to $1,000 per violation. Individuals harmed by violations can seek damages in district court, with potential awards of $10,000 for each violation or actual damages if the violation directly caused harm. The attorney general is tasked with adopting rules to ensure compliance with the act, including acceptable methods of parental authorization and processes for confirming that authorization has been received. This legislation applies to social media companies operating in Iowa after the bill's effective date.