Minnesota House Panel Revives Discussion About Bill Prohibiting Social Media Algorithms Targeting Teens

By Caroline Cummings, CBS Minnesota

March 2, 2023

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A Minnesota House panel on Wednesday advanced a proposal designed to curb the harmful impacts social media can have on children by restricting the use of algorithms for users under the age of 18.

It's a revived effort at the capitol this year at a time when technology companies and platforms like TikTok are under intense scrutiny. The legislation, which has bipartisan support, forbids a social media platform in Minnesota with a million or more users from targeting kids and teens with algorithms, which curate content that it determines a user may like or interact with. There'd be a penalty of $1,000 per violation should the bill pass.

For children to even open an account on a social media website or app, parental consent would be required.

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