Lawmakers hope for more restrictions for minors and their social media use

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) — This session, House Bill 450, wants more restrictions, including prohibiting social media companies from allowing minors to create accounts without their parents consent.

“I’m not sure that the social media companies are ever going to stop, are ever going to hold themselves accountable. And it’s almost to a point where I have to ask, who needs to hold them accountable to where we can see some change,” says Representative Nick Wilson, a sponsor of the bill, he says it makes no sense how some companies have their rules backwards when it comes to creating accounts.

“Right now on Instagram, a parent needs a teens permission to supervise the account. I think Instagram has that backwards, I think a teen should have a parent’s permission to be on their their social media platform,” says Wilson.

Wilson adds more parental involvement could help in some serious crimes against kids, like child exploitation, child pornography or any contact with child predators.

“All children are different, and I trust the parents judgment on their own child over the judgment of Mark Zuckerberg, on who can use their platforms,” he says.

Wilson says he hopes the bill gets the ball rolling, for the state to find a potential solution.

“My ultimate goal is to develop a meaningful conversation about how we’re going to protect ourselves and especially our children from social media practices,” said Wilson.

Just last week, CEO’s like Mark Zuckerberg and others were questioned in Washington by a senate committee regarding mental health risks for kids and teens.
Most social media platforms currently have a minimum user age of 13.