Bill > HB1834

This bill aims to protect Washington children online by establishing new regulations for operators of "addictive internet-based services or applications," which are defined as online platforms that use "addictive feeds" – systems that recommend content based on user information. Starting July 1, 2027, these operators must reasonably determine if a user is a minor before providing them with an addictive feed, and before this date, they must have actual knowledge that the user is not a minor. The bill also restricts operators from sending push notifications to minors during school hours (8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays from September to May) and late at night (12 a.m. to 6 a.m.) unless they have verifiable parental consent. Furthermore, operators must provide users with options to limit daily access to addictive feeds, control the visibility of feedback on content, set a default feed that isn't personalized, and enable private accounts. The bill clarifies that compliance does not shield operators from liability for harm to a minor's mental health, and any personal information collected for age verification can only be used for that purpose and not retained longer than necessary. This legislation is considered vital to the public interest and a violation is deemed an unfair business practice under Washington's Consumer Protection Act.