Bill > H5291

This bill creates the Rhode Island Social Media Regulation Act, which would establish comprehensive restrictions on social media platform access for minors under 18 years old. Starting January 1, 2026, social media companies would be required to obtain express parental consent before allowing a minor to create an account, verify the age of account holders, and implement several protective measures. These measures include prohibiting direct messaging with non-friended users, preventing minors from appearing in search results, blocking advertising, restricting data collection, and limiting account access hours (10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. by default). Parents would be granted a password to access their child's account and have options to modify time restrictions. The bill empowers the Department of Business Regulation to investigate complaints, impose administrative fines up to $2,500 per violation, and take legal action against non-compliant social media companies. Additionally, the bill provides a private right of action for aggrieved persons, allowing them to sue for up to $2,500 per incident or actual damages. The legislation aims to protect minors from potential online risks by giving parents more control over their children's social media usage.

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