This bill aims to enhance social media privacy for current and prospective students and employees of institutions of higher education in West Virginia by introducing a new article, designated as 18B-23-1. It defines key terms such as "employee," "institution of higher education," "social media account," and "student." The bill prohibits these institutions from requiring individuals to disclose their social media usernames or passwords, change their privacy settings, or add institutional employees or volunteers as contacts on their social media accounts.

Additionally, the bill protects individuals from any adverse actions by the institution, such as threats of discharge or disciplinary measures, for asserting their rights under this new provision. It clarifies that institutions may still view publicly available information online and must comply with federal and state laws. Overall, the legislation seeks to safeguard the privacy of personal social media accounts for those affiliated with higher education institutions in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18B-23-1