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Bill

H 897

An act relating to prohibiting the use of social media by children

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Angela Arsenault and 16 co-sponsors

Prohibits or severely restricts children's use of social media in Vermont, establishing enforceable age-based limits and related compliance requirements.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 897

Overview

H 897 (2025-2026 Session, Vermont) is a proposed Act titled An act relating to prohibiting the use of social media by children. The bill, introduced in the House and assigned to the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, seeks to restrict or prohibit children’s access to social media platforms. The sponsor list includes a broad group of co-sponsors, indicating bipartisan or cross-faction engagement. The bill was read in the House and referred to committee on February 11, 2026.

Purpose and Intent

  • Primary aim: To prohibit or severely restrict the use of social media by children (the exact age threshold and definitions would be specified in the bill’s text).
  • Implicit goals likely include protecting minors from potential harms associated with social media, such as distraction from school, mental health impacts, exposure to inappropriate content, data collection concerns, and online safety risks.
  • The bill seeks to establish enforceable standards or prohibitions at the state level, potentially affecting platforms, schools, families, and guardians.

Key Provisions (likely elements; note: actual text needed for precise language)

  • Prohibition Scope:
    • A statewide prohibition on children’s use of one or more social media platforms, possibly defined as apps or websites that allow user-generated content and interaction.
    • Possible age-based threshold (e.g., under 18) or other criteria to determine who is affected.
  • Access and Compliance:
    • Requirements for proof of age or parental consent.
    • Mechanisms for enforcing the prohibition (e.g., platform-level compliance, penalties for violators, or penalties for guardians/schools).
  • Exceptions or Defenses:
    • Potential exemptions (e.g., for educational purposes, research, healthcare communication, emergency situations, or parental override).
    • Safe harbor provisions for platforms operational in Vermont that implement age-restriction measures.
  • Enforcement and Penalties:
    • Sanctions for individuals, guardians, schools, or platforms that fail to comply.
    • Administrative or civil penalties, with specified ranges or schedules.
  • Oversight and Reporting:
    • A schedule for enforcement reviews, annual or periodic reporting to the legislature, or a timeline for phased implementation.
  • Definitions:
    • Clear definitions of “social media,” “child,” “parent,” “guardian,” “platform,” and “compliance.” May include terms like account, login, or device.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Children and minors: Primary targets of the prohibition, with direct limits on access to social media.
  • Parents/Guardians: Potential responsibilities to monitor and enforce compliance within households.
  • Schools and educators: May face obligations related to enforcement or education about the prohibition.
  • Social media platforms and service providers: Possible obligations to verify age, restrict access, or implement Vermont-specific restrictions; could be subject to penalties for noncompliance.
  • State and local authorities: Enforcers of the prohibition, with potential reporting duties to the legislature.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and Referral: Introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on 2026-02-11.
  • Committee Process: The bill would be analyzed in committee, including hearings, possible amendments, and votes before advancing to the House floor.
  • Potential Floor Action: If the committee reports the bill, it would go to the House for debate and a vote, followed by potential Senate consideration (not specified in the provided information).
  • Effective Date: The bill would specify an effective date (e.g., upon passage, or a phased rollout) in the provisions; such dates determine when the prohibitions take effect.
  • Sunset or Review: Some bills include sunset clauses or mandatory reviews; the text would indicate if applicable.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Public safety and child well-being: Aims to reduce exposure to online risks among minors.
  • Practical enforceability: Effectiveness depends on clear definitions, feasible enforcement mechanisms, and cooperation from platforms and families.
  • Legal and practical challenges: Potential conflicts with federal law, First Amendment considerations (if applicable to content creation or access), and practicalities of monitoring device use in homes and schools.
  • Economic implications: Compliance costs for platforms; potential impact on parental control services and educational technology usage.

Notes

  • The summary reflects the bill’s stated objective to prohibit social media use by children and the general categories typical of such legislation. For precise language, definitions, exact age thresholds, exemptions, penalties, and enforcement mechanisms, the bill’s full text and any amendments should be consulted.
  • As of the provided action history, the bill is at the initial committee stage; subsequent steps would determine its ultimate scope and impact.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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