Louisiana passes new bill that BANS minors from signing up to social networks, multiplayer games and video sharing apps without parental consent
- The legislation is now in State's Governor John Bel Edwards' hands. If he signs it the new rules will take effect in August 2024
- Online platforms - including video games and social media networks - would use a third-party service to get parental consent before the child could use it
Louisiana has passed a bill that bans children under the age of 18 from signing up for their own social media accounts without parental consent.
The legislation is known as HB61 and has now been sent to the State's Governor John Bel Edwards to sign. If he does, it will take effect in August 2024.
Online platforms - including video games, video-sharing apps, and social media networks - would use a third-party service to get a parent's consent before the child could use it.
The legislature includes 'interactive computer services' - an incredibly broad term - which would therefore bar under 18s from accessing games like Roblox and Fortnite, and setting up Instagram, Twitter or YouTube accounts.
It could even stop minors from setting up their own email accounts without permission from their parents.
![The far-reaching age verification legislation is known as HB61 and now has been sent to the State's Governor John Bel Edwards (pictured) to sign. If he does, the legislation will take effect in August 2024](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/08/21/71927497-12175427-image-a-29_1686257230826.jpg)
The far-reaching age verification legislation is known as HB61 and now has been sent to the State's Governor John Bel Edwards (pictured) to sign. If he does, the legislation will take effect in August 2024
The bill would also work historically. This means parents could go back and cancel terms-of-service contracts their children signed up for before the legislature even went into play.
The Louisiana bill does not explicitly require social media sites to verify users' ages with photo ID.
Louisiana was already one of the first states to pass age verification requirements for adult pornography websites - and now this legislation will go a step further and attempt to protect minors from other edges of the internet.
The unanimous 97 to 0 vote in both chambers of the Louisiana state legislature has shown the immense support for child safeguarding among lawmakers.
Republican Laurie Schlegel is the spearhead of the new bill - after she championed the passing of the Louisiana pornography verification law last year.
Campaign groups who have spoken out against taking harsher stances on online safety say that social media can have a positive impact on young people, especially those who may be marginalized.
Louisiana would follow Utah and Arkansas, who signed similar bills into action this year.
A handful of other states are also considering less restrictive, but similar safeguarding bills - including New Jersey, Minnesota, Texas, and Maryland.
NetChoice vice president and general counsel Carl Szabo is staunchly against the bill - which he says violates the first amendment.
He said that being anonymous online - and not having to hand over your data to prove your identity for mundane activities - is fundamental for people like whistleblowers and victims.
Szabo said in a statement: 'It will decimate anonymous browsing and gaming — requiring citizens to hand over data to prove their identity and age just to use an online service.
![The legislature includes 'interactive computer services' - an incredibly broad term - which would therefore bar under 18s from accessing games like Roblox and Fortnite, and setting up Instagram or Twitter accounts](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/08/21/71929731-12175427-image-m-30_1686257234748.jpg)
The legislature includes 'interactive computer services' - an incredibly broad term - which would therefore bar under 18s from accessing games like Roblox and Fortnite, and setting up Instagram or Twitter accounts
![The unanimous vote in both chambers of the Louisiana state legislature has shown the immense support for child safeguarding among lawmakers](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/08/22/71929701-12175427-The_unanimous_vote_in_both_chambers_of_the_Louisiana_state_legis-a-27_1686259188939.jpg)
The unanimous vote in both chambers of the Louisiana state legislature has shown the immense support for child safeguarding among lawmakers
'Anonymity can be important for individuals using social media services for things like whistleblowers, victims, and those identifying crime in the neighborhood who fear backlash.
'What’s worse is that it fails to really address the underlying issues.
'Instead, Louisiana policymakers could actually help teens and parents by following the educational approaches of Virginia and Florida.
'We are hopeful that Governor Edwards will veto this bill. It violates First Amendment rights, takes away parental rights for their families and requires massive data collection on all Louisiana citizens.'
Utah's law, which was signed in March this year, prohibits social media companies from displaying ads, showing accounts held by minors in search results and collecting info on children.
The apps will also be unable to suggest or target content and ads to minors.
One of the most notable features is the curfew that automatically locks children out of their accounts at 10.30pm and does not allow them back on until 6.30am.
The locks are activated by the location of a user's phone and the feature can be adjusted with parental consent.
Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook now have until March 1, 2024 to comply.
If they do not adhere to the new laws, they may be punished in civil or criminal court.
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