Race Day Live Indiana lawmakers are working on a bill that could make it harder for kids under 16 to use social media apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
Senate Bill 11 (SB 11) is designed to give parents more control over their kids’ online activity by requiring them to permit before kids can use these platforms.
Parents would also have to upload personal information, such as a credit card or driver’s license, to verify their approval.
The bill, written by State Senator Mike Bohacek, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee with a 10-1 vote but has been adjusted.
It no longer allows parents to sue other parents if their kids are bullied or sue social media companies for not following the law. Instead, parents must report their concerns to the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, which can then take legal action against the companies.
If a parent complains about their child using social media without their permission, platforms like TikTok would have 90 days to fix the issue. If they don’t, they would be breaking the law.
Some lawmakers, like State Senator Liz Brown, see the bill as a step toward protecting children online. “This seems to be a pretty easy thing to do,” she said. But others worry about its impact on privacy and constitutional rights.
Senator Rodney Pol, a Democrat from East Chicago, raised concerns about the amount of personal information parents and kids would need to share with social media platforms to comply with the law. “I don’t want to see these companies taking even more information from people,” he said.
Chris Daley, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana, believes the bill won’t work as intended. He pointed out that kids could easily lie about their age or use tools like VPNs to get around the restrictions.
“A youth could just pretend they’re older or act like they’re in a different state where this law doesn’t exist,” Daley explained.
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The bill will be reviewed again in the Senate on Tuesday, and it will need to pass a third vote before moving to the Indiana House. If it becomes law, it could significantly change how kids and parents in Indiana use social media.
The debate highlights a broader issue: how to balance protecting children online with respecting privacy and constitutional rights.
While some see SB 11 as a necessary move to safeguard kids, others think it overreaches and might not be enforceable. Only time will tell if Indiana’s efforts will lead to a safer online space for children—or spark even more controversy.
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