A Louisiana lawmaker has filed a bill that would bar social media companies such as TikTok from providing accounts to minors without a parent’s or guardian’s permission and require that new age-verification rules are followed.
State Sen. Patrick McMath (R-Covington) filed SB 162 on March 31. His Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation Act would also allow the state Department of Justice to impose fines of up to $2,500 per violation of the law.
In addition, the bill could create more opportunities for Louisiana residents to file civil lawsuits, according to the state Legislature’s summary of the bill.
“(The) proposed law provides that a person may bring a direct action against another person that does not comply with proposed law,” the summary says. “(It) provides that a person bringing an action is entitled to reasonable attorney fees, court costs and damages in the amount of $2,500 for each violation or damages for financial, physical and emotional distress, or whichever is greater.”
TikTok did not provide a comment specifically about McMath's bill, but a spokesman said the company is taking steps to make its platform more safe and secure for young people.
"We're committed to providing a safe and secure platform that supports the well-being of teens and empowers parents with the tools and controls to safely navigate the digital experience,” Jamal Brown told the Louisiana Record in an email. “We strive to accomplish this through robust safety policies, parental controls and age-appropriate account settings. …”
These actions include automatically setting a one-hour daily screen time limit for app users under 18 years old and not allowing direct messaging for those under 16, Brown said. TikTok will continue dealing with challenges facing social media companies that relate to the “safety and well-being” of youth, he said.
The bill would require the Department of Justice to create a system to verify the age of app users and to confirm that parents have given their consent. If passed and signed by the governor, the measure would take effect on March 1, 2024.