Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass bill that establishes new regulations requiring social media platforms to limit interactions with minors in Massachusetts.

Highlights:

• Defines a “covered operator” as any person, business or legal entity who operates or provides a social media platform (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a covered operator to use commercially available methods to determine if a social media user is a minor (Sec. 1)

• Requires a covered operator to do the following (Sec. 1):

• Limit addictive social media feeds;

• Limit minor user’s push notifications between the hours of 10:00pm to 7:00am;

• Limit autoplay or other auto-advance functions that continuously present content to a user;

• Limit infinite scroll or other endless scrolling functions; and

• Limit the visibility or sharing of the user’s precise geolocation data with other users.

• Prohibits users from automatically lifting social media restrictions unless the covered operator determines the user is not a minor (Sec. 1)

• Requires covered operators to provide quarterly anonymous data to the state attorney general regarding use of social media platforms among minors (Sec. 1)

• Requires covered operators to be fined a civil fine of not more than $5,000 per any violation for failing to limit usage by minors (Sec. 1).

• Requires covered operators to be fined a civil penalty of no more than $1,000,000 per violation for failing to report usage by minors (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this act takes effect August 1, 2027 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text