Bill > SB0129

This bill establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for social media access by minors in Indiana, requiring social media operators to obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing users under 16 years old to access their platforms. The legislation is motivated by concerns about the potential negative impacts of social media on children's mental health, citing statistics about youth suicide and depression rates. The bill defines social media broadly as websites or internet applications that allow users to create profiles, share content, and interact with other users, while excluding certain types of platforms like gaming sites and workplace communication tools. Social media operators must implement commercially reasonable methods to verify parental consent, identify and restrict minor users without consent, and provide parents with the ability to revoke consent at any time. The Attorney General is empowered to enforce these requirements, with the ability to issue notices of violation and potentially bring legal action that could result in injunctive relief and civil penalties up to $250,000 for non-compliance. The bill also mandates that any information collected about minor users must be encrypted and kept confidential, with special protections for records in legal proceedings. Importantly, the legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, giving social media companies time to develop and implement compliant systems.

Justice

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/senate/129/details