Social Media Restrictions for Indiana Minors Requires Parents Hand Over Sensitive Information

Social media can be a dangerous place, especially for kids. A new Indiana bill limits social media use among kids, but requires parents to hand over some sensitive information.

(UPDATE FROM GOV. BRAUN AT THE BOTTOM)

I have two teens at home. Growing up in a world full of social media, kids today feel that if they don't have a TikTok or Instagram, they are missing out. We recently allowed our teenagers to create an account, but we have strict rules when it comes to that. As parents, your job is to protect your kids. That doesn't just mean in real life, but on social media too. Many kids don't understand the dangers that can come with social media. There's online bullying, scams, and as much as we hate to believe it, it could happen to our kids, in a lot of cases where adults often prey on underage victims. Because of that, there's a new bill in Indiana that aims to protect children on social media, and it could require parents to hand over some sensitive information in the process.

New Indiana Bill Restricts Minors on Social Media

The Indiana General Assembly just passed House Bill 1408, which limits social media use among kids/ The bill is now with Indiana Governor Mike Braun, awaiting his signature. According to Fox 59:

If the bill becomes law, Indiana kids under 16 could no longer use popular social media sites unless those sites receive verifiable consent from a parent or guardian. Accounts of users under 16 that don’t have this permission will be disabled. Social media providers would also need to remove any addictive features from kids’ accounts by January 2027.

Once the governor signs this bill, it will be officially signed into law. In theory, this is a good way to protect our children if they are going to be on social media. However, when parents/guardians do give their consent to allow their children on social media, there are some things you need to know about that could be concerning.

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Sensitive Information Required For Kids Using Social Media in Indiana

So, if you would like your children to stay on social media in Indiana, you are going to have to give your consent. According to WANE 15, that doesn't mean that you'll have to click a prompt to agree or have their account linked with yours. You are going to have to provide proof of identity to consent. That means that you will have to provide social media companies with sensitive personal information to prove their identity, such as Social Security Numbers or a copy of their driver’s license.

I don't know about you, but I would be somewhat hesitant to provide that information on these social media platforms, given that several of these platforms have been targets of various data breaches or have been known to sell personal information. Not to mention, if your (or your child's) account were to get hacked, a scammer would have all of the information about you that they'd need.

What Social Media Will Look Like for Hoosier Minors

If this bill is passed, children under the age (with parental consent) on social media  will see that certain features, such as infinite scrolling, autoplay and algorithm-driven content recommendations, would have to be disabled. On top of that, their account could only send messages to other linked accounts or friends. Social media companies would need to continuously monitor account holders, including keeping track of their ages. WANE 15 goes on to say:

Other restrictions include social media companies being ordered to create a suite of password-protected parental controls. These controls would let parents monitor the time their children spend on social media platforms and set daily and weekly time limits, even restrict access altogether during certain hours of the day.

How do you feel about this new bill? Does it make you feel any safer to have your kids on social media? Do you even allow your kids to have an account? The big question, though, is whether you will continue to allow them to have social media if you have to hand over personal information like that? Currently, we are awaiting a signature from the governor. Once signed, most of the guidelines and restrictions are required to be in place by Jan. 1, 2027.

UPDATE:

In a press conference yesterday, Governor Braun said that parents should provide feedback about how well Indiana’s new social media law works.