Bill > HB318

This bill aims to protect minors in Alaska from potential harms associated with social media use by requiring social media platforms to implement specific safeguards. It acknowledges that minors are particularly vulnerable to design features intended to maximize engagement, which can lead to negative consequences like anxiety and sleep disruption. The bill mandates that platforms must, by default, offer a content delivery system without "addictive design features" (such as auto-playing videos or endless scrolling) to known minors, and can only use such features with verifiable parental consent. Furthermore, platforms are prohibited from sending notifications to minors during school hours or late at night, unless for essential account security or safety reasons, and parents can opt out of these restrictions. The bill also restricts targeted advertising to minors, limits the collection and retention of their personal data and precise location data, and requires that minors' accounts are not public by default. The Attorney General is empowered to enforce these provisions, with the possibility of punitive damages for repeated violations, and can adopt regulations to implement the law, including defining additional addictive design features and establishing age verification practices. Social media platforms with known minor users in Alaska must submit an annual report to the Attorney General detailing their design features affecting minors, harm mitigation measures, data practices, and internal assessments, though proprietary algorithms are protected. The bill defines "known minor" as a user the platform knows or should know is under 18, and "social media platform" broadly to include services that use algorithms to recommend or amplify content, excluding basic email or direct messaging services. The Attorney General is also required to report to the legislature on the regulations adopted to implement this Act by January 1, 2028, and the entire Act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Justice

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB318