Arkansas to Require Parent Permission for Teens on Social Media

Arkansas minors will need parental permission to create social media accounts under a law signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) on Wednesday that requires age verification by platforms.

The law (S.B. 396), affecting companies such as Meta Platforms Inc., follows Utah’s first-in-the-nation restrictions on social media use for teens under 18 years old. The Arkansas law, which also allows individuals to sue over violations, will be the first to take effect on Sept. 1.

“The heart of it is to protect children,” state Sen. Tyler Dees (R), the bill’s lead sponsor, told lawmakers April 6.

State legislators across the country are considering proposals to regulate a child’s experience online, citing mental health and safety concerns. Tech industry groups have raised constitutional concerns with the Utah and Arkansas laws, and have warned that they could isolate vulnerable teens.

The Arkansas law requires social media companies to use third-party vendors to verify the ages of new account holders using methods such as driver’s licenses and digitized IDs. Individuals could sue over violations for damages if a minor accesses social media without consent from a parent or legal guardian.

Social media companies must generate at least $100 million in annual gross revenue to fall under the law. The law includes numerous exceptions, such as companies that only offer subscription content, companies that make less than a quarter of their revenue from a social media platform, and career development sites.

Lawmakers cited YouTube and LinkedIn as exempted platforms during legislative debate.

Opponents such as the Computer & Communications Industry Association, whose members include Meta, argue the law raises compliance questions and could force companies to collect additional user data.

Teens could also be blocked from the benefits of social media, including those who live in unsafe households, Khara Boender, the association’s state policy director, wrote to Arkansas lawmakers on March 16.

“An online central meeting place where younger users can share their experiences and find support can have positive impacts,” she wrote.