Bill > HB2294

This bill establishes the Virginia Social Media Regulation Act, which creates strict regulations for social media platforms' interactions with minors under 18 years old. The bill requires social media companies with at least five million worldwide account holders to obtain express parental consent before allowing a minor to create an account and mandates age verification for Virginia residents. Social media companies must provide parents with full access to their child's account, including all posts and messages. The legislation prohibits social media platforms from collecting personal data from minor accounts, displaying advertisements, enabling direct messaging with non-friended users, or using features that could potentially cause addiction. The bill also imposes time restrictions on account access, preventing minor users from accessing their accounts between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Companies that violate these provisions can face significant civil penalties, including a $250,000 fine for each addictive design feature and up to $2,500 per minor account holder exposed to such features. Any violation of the act is considered a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act, making it subject to enforcement mechanisms and potential legal action.

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https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2294