Cybersecurity Policy Report, Minnesota Lawmakers Eye Social Media Safety Bill, (Mar 13, 2026)
The Minnesota state House Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law meets March 17 to consider a bill that would impose requirements on large social media platforms aimed at protecting children under 16.
HF 4138 would require large social media platforms to estimate the age of users based on their activity, using reasonable means and efforts, and to treat users as children unless they can determine with high confidence that the user is older than 15. For children, platforms would have to obtain verifiable parental consent before creating or maintaining accounts, and all privacy settings would have to default to the most private levels. The bill also would require parents to be given options to monitor and limit their child’s usage, including setting time limits and restricting access times.
The bill further would prohibit social media platforms from presenting addictive interface features or targeted paid commercial advertising to child accounts. It would establish clear procedures for account termination and require platforms to terminate a child’s account within seven days of a request from the child or within 14 days of a request from a parent, with verification requirements for parental requests.
The bill has an effective date of Nov. 1.
The bill (H.F. 4138, Reg Sess.) is sponsored by Rep. Peggy Scott (R.).
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