The Pennsylvania State House of Representatives recently passed a bill aimed at regulating how online social media platforms interact with children. The legislation, titled House Bill 2017, requires social media platforms to allow users to report hateful conduct, such as threats or bullying, and establish policies for responding to such reports. It also mandates that users under the age of 18 obtain parental consent and prohibits platforms from data mining users under 18. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Brian Munroe, has similarities to laws in other states that are currently facing legal challenges in federal courts.
The bill passed in the state House almost along party lines, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats in supporting it, while seven Democrats sided with most Republicans against it. The legislation faces an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled state Senate, and there is a possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court may ultimately determine whether state-level provisions like those in the bill can be enforced. Critics of the bill, such as the Washington-based Computer and Communications Industry Association, have raised concerns about potential infringements on users’ ability to access open online expression, as well as data privacy and security issues.
Rep. Munroe defended the bill by comparing the regulation of social media for children to age-related restrictions in other areas such as movies, driving, drinking alcohol, and smoking. He argued that the government has historically acted in the best interests of children by setting boundaries on potentially harmful activities and requiring parental permission for various activities. Munroe emphasized that parents and children are advocating for such regulatory measures as a means of protecting minors from harmful online content and interactions.
While platforms like Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, have asserted that they already have parental supervision tools and other safeguards in place for teens online, supporters of the bill argue that additional regulations are necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of minors in the digital realm. The bill’s prohibition on data mining of users under 18 is particularly contentious, as it raises questions about how age verification and parental consent would be implemented, as well as potential consequences for online engagement and community support networks.
Similar laws in other states, such as Utah’s requirement for parental consent before minors can use social media, have faced legal challenges, indicating a broader debate about the role of state governments in regulating online platforms. Federal courts have also weighed in on state laws seeking to limit social media companies’ ability to censor user content based on viewpoints. The ongoing legal battles and uncertainty surrounding such legislation underscore the complexities of balancing free speech, child protection, and data privacy in the digital age. The fate of Pennsylvania’s social media regulation bill remains uncertain as it moves to the state Senate and potentially awaits a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.
