Bill > H4229

This bill aims to protect minors from potentially addictive social media feeds by establishing new regulations for social media platforms. The legislation defines an "addictive feed" as a digital platform that recommends content to users based on their personal information and interaction history, with specific exceptions. The bill requires social media platforms to use commercially reasonable methods to verify a user's age and prevent minors from accessing addictive feeds. Platforms are prohibited from sending notifications to minors between midnight and 6 a.m. and cannot discriminate against users by degrading service or increasing prices if they cannot provide an addictive feed. The Massachusetts Attorney General is tasked with developing regulations for age verification methods, considering factors like platform size, technical capabilities, and user privacy. Platforms that inadvertently serve content to minors after using reasonable age verification methods will be presumed compliant. The bill allows the Attorney General to take enforcement actions, including injunctions and civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation, and requires maintaining a public complaint website. The regulations will take effect 90 days after the Attorney General develops the necessary implementation rules, with the law applying to conduct that occurs wholly or partially within Massachusetts.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4229