Cybersecurity Policy Report, Social Media Safety Bill Clears Minnesota House, (May 13, 2026)
The Minnesota state House voted 132-2 this week to pass a bill that would impose requirements on large social media platforms aimed at protecting children under 16.
“This bill does not ban users from having social media, instead it requires a parent or guardian to approve of social media contractual agreements,” said bill sponsor Rep. Peggy Scott (R.).
HF 4138 would require large social media platforms to estimate the age of users based on their activity, using reasonable means and efforts, and treat users as children unless they can determine with high confidence that the user is older than 15. For children under age 15, platforms would have to obtain verifiable parental consent before creating or maintaining accounts.
Also under the bill, privacy settings for young users would be automatically set to the highest level, which would restrict, among other things, content sharing only between a child’s direct friends.
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 (H.F. 4138, Reg Sess.) has an effective date of Nov. 1.
News: StateLegislation DataPrivacy