A bill that would ban social media for minors under the age of 14 in North Carolina cleared a House Commerce and Economic Development committee on Tuesday.
House Bill 301 would also require parental consent for teens between the ages of 14 and 15 in order to create a social media account. Under the bill, social media platforms would be responsible for terminating unauthorized accounts for minors and ensure personal data is erased.
HB 301 includes several accountability safeguards. Platforms must verify users’ ages using methods designed to protect personal data and will face fines of up to $50,000 per violation if they fail to adhere to the law. The act allows the NC Department of Justice to investigate violations and enforce compliance, a move meant to ensure companies take the law seriously. Proceeds from any penalties collected will go toward the state’s Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund.
State Rep. Jeff Zenger, R-Forsyth, who sponsored the bill, pointed to recent statistics as justification for the legislation. According to the Office of the Surgeon General, “40% of children aged 8-12 are on social media, where there are an estimated 500,000 predators seeking to exploit kids each day,” Zenger said. “You’re hard-pressed to find anybody to say there’s any good thing about kids being on social media.”
Zenger also highlighted the overwhelming support the bill has received from parents across political affiliations. “One thing that’s been interesting is the overwhelming support from parents across the political spectrum. I didn’t expect such unanimous approval, but it’s been clear that parents are fully behind this.”
Some lawmakers on the House committee expressed concerns about how it will be enforced. State Rep. Carla Cunningham, D-Mecklenburg, brought attention to the challenges of regulating platforms, given their constantly evolving nature.
“I’m worried about how we’re going to enforce this,” she said. “Even though there is a penalty, how do we ensure compliance when platforms are always changing structure, shifting names, or selling themselves off?”
Zenger responded by drawing comparisons to enforcing laws around alcohol and smoking, acknowledging the challenges but emphasizing the importance of making a strong statement to prioritize children’s safety. “Saying that people might find a way around it is not a reason to do nothing,” he said.
North Carolina isn’t the only state wrestling with the impact of social media on younger generations. Utah and Arkansas recently passed laws requiring children under 18 to obtain parental consent to use platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Louisiana and Texas have also introduced similar bills, with many states looking to follow suit.
The post Bill to curb social media access for minors clears NC House committee first appeared on Carolina Journal.