


Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) has signed a bill into law that aims to restrict any person under the age of 16’s social media usage.
The Georgia bill will require those under 16 to obtain parental consent before they can access social media companies’ services. The platforms will decide how they obtain parental consent.
The Protecting Georgia’s Children on Social Media Act will require the Georgia Department of Education and local boards to “adopt policies on social media, cyberbullying, and internet usage.”
“We cannot continue to sit by and do nothing as young Georgians develop addictions and disorder and suffer at the hands of online antagonists,” Kemp said when he signed the bill on Tuesday. Kemp added that the primary aim of the bill is to prevent cyberbullying and to nullify the negative mental health effects social media can have on youth.
The legislation also requires websites that contain more than one-third of content that could be harmful to minors to verify users are 18 or older. It also has a provision that will prevent social media use on school Wi-Fi or devices.
Other states, such as Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Utah, have passed similar laws. Florida’s is among the most strict, banning social media accounts entirely for children under 14.
The bill was not celebrated by everyone.
“SB 351 breaches Georgians’ privacy, endangers security, violates constitutional rights, and creates a one-size-fits all ‘solution’ that erases parents. This unconstitutional law will not help a single Georgian or family,” Carl Szabo, NetChoice’s vice president and general counsel, said in a statement.
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NetChoice’s mission statement says that it aims to “make the Internet safe for free enterprise and free expression.”
“There are better ways to protect Georgians, their families and their data online without infringing on their freedoms or jeopardizing their safety and security” Szabo added.