Meta Supports This State’s Proposed Social Media Age-Verification Bill
By Movieguide® Contributor
Meta is showing its support for a proposed Alabama bill that would protect children online through age verification systems.
HB 317 would “require app store providers to verify the age of users,” as well as “affiliate minor accounts with parent accounts and obtain consent from the holder of the parent company,” per the bill’s text.
The bill would also require app store providers to protect any personal data they collect through the age verification system, as well as prevent them from sharing the data.
Meta has been supportive of age verification systems since 2023 and has voiced its approval of HB 317.
“There are bills across the United States that require app by app verification and parental consent and so what we really want is a solution that’s easier for parents, something that’s really simple and privacy protected,” Meta’s Head of Safety Policy for North America, Jennifer Hanley, said.
Hanley continued, “It’s putting parents really in charge of what teens are downloading, what social media sites they’re using like ours, and we think it’s a more simplified way to do it.”
READ MORE: META, SNAP SUPPORT SOCIAL MEDIA AGE VERIFICATION LAWS
Other states, including Utah, Iowa and South Carolina, have considered passing similar legislation.
Oklahoma politicians recently advanced HB 1275, which would prohibit those under the age of 16 from having social media accounts and prevent minors older than 16 from having an account without parental consent.
“We have a compelling interest to protect the youth of Oklahoma,” the bill’s author, Rep. Chad Caldwell, explained. “Much like we’ve done when it comes to other addictive substances such as tobacco or alcohol, much like we’ve done in other manners in guarding access to things like pornography, gaming, tattoos, we’re putting some guardrails on and ensuring that we’re delaying access for our kids.”
READ MORE: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TEXAS PORN SITE AGE VERIFICATION LAW
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