PRINTER'S NO. 3605
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2553
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY MERCURI, PICKETT, PARKER AND SCIALABBA,
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
UTILITIES, SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387),
2 entitled "An act prohibiting unfair methods of competition
3 and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of
4 any trade or commerce, giving the Attorney General and
5 District Attorneys certain powers and duties and providing
6 penalties," prohibiting the use of social media platforms by
7 minors.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. The act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387),
11 known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law,
12 is amended by adding a section read:
13 Section 9.5. Prohibition on Use of Social Media Platforms by
14 Minors.--(a) A social media company shall prohibit an
15 individual who is younger than 14 years of age from using the
16 company's social media platform.
17 (b) A social media platform shall have the following duties:
18 (1) Require the social media platform's users to use an
19 account to access the social media platform.
20 (2) Certify that each account is held by an individual who
 1 is at least 14 years of age.
2 (c) A social media platform shall verify the age of an
3 account holder by requiring that the account holder provide a
4 copy of the account holder's driver's license and an additional
5 photo identification showing both the account holder and the
6 driver's license in a manner that allows the social media
7 company to verify the identity of the account holder.
8 (d) A social media company may only use the personal
9 information provided under subsection (c) for age verification
10 purposes. The social media company shall delete the personal
11 information immediately upon completion of the age verification
12 process.
13 (e) No later than ten days after receiving a request from a
14 parent, a social media company shall delete the account of the
15 parent's child and cease the further use or maintenance in
16 retrievable form, or the future online collection, of the
17 personal information collected from the child's account on the
18 company's social media platform. The social media company shall
19 provide a reasonable, accessible and verifiable means by which a
20 parent can make a request under this subsection.
21 (f) A social media company commits a violation of this
22 section if the social media company knowingly:
23 (1) allows a minor to use the company's platform in a manner
24 prohibited under subsection (a);
25 (2) uses or retains personal information in a manner
26 prohibited under subsection (d) or (e); or
27 (3) fails to remove an account as required under subsection
28 (e).
29 (g) The Attorney General shall enforce the provisions of
30 this section. Violations committed under subsection (f) shall be
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1 considered unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive
2 acts or practices and shall be subject to the penalties imposed
3 under this act.
4 (h) This section shall apply to an individual who is younger
5 than 14 years of age upon the amendment of the definition of
6 "child" in 15 U.S.C. § 6501 (relating to definitions) as
7 necessary to implement this section.
8 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 3605: P.L.1224, No.387