Communications: social media; regulating access to social media companies by minors act; create. Creates new act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Aric Nesbitt

The act would ban minors under 16 from using social media in Michigan (16–17 require parental consent) and impose up to $25,000 daily penalties on violating companies.

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

#children:other #communications:socialmedia

Summary of SB 996 (2025-2026) – Michigan

Purpose

SB 996 proposes the “Regulating Access to Social Media Companies by Minors Act.” Its central aim is to restrict access to social media platforms for minors and to authorize civil enforcement actions by the state against social media companies that violate the provisions.

Key Provisions

Definitions

Social media company: A person that provides an interactive computer service offering a social media platform.
Social media platform: Website or internet application enabling an individual to create an account and communicate with other users via posts. Excludes:
Broadband internet access service.
Email.
Certain online services/apps if content is preselected by the provider and interactive functionality is incidental to that preselected content.

Age-based Access Restrictions (effective upon enactment)

No minor under 16 years old may view, access, create, or maintain an account on a social media platform.
Minors aged 16 through 17 may view, access, or create/maintain an account only with express written consent from a parent or legal guardian.

Enforcement and Penalties

The Attorney General may file a civil action against a social media company that violates the act.
Civil penalty: $25,000 per day for each day the violation occurs.

Who/What Is Affected

Social media companies operating in or serving Michigan users (as defined by the bill) would be subject to the act.

Minors under 16 and, for those aged 16-17, their parents or legal guardians (for consent requirements).

Attorney General would assume enforcement authority and pursue civil actions.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Effective Date: The act becomes effective on the date specified in the act (the text provided does not include a specific calendar date; it states “beginning on the effective date of this act” for the age restrictions).

Enforcement Window: Violations are subject to civil action by the Attorney General, with penalties accruing per day of violation (i.e., daily fines).

Potential Implications

Substantial compliance burden on social media platforms to verify age and obtain parental consent for older minors.

Significant civil penalties (up to $25,000 per day per violation) could act as a strong deterrent.

Ambiguities that may require clarification in practice, such as:

How “viewing or accessing” and “creating or maintaining an account” are monitored and enforced.
Mechanisms for parental consent verification.
Evidence standards and the handling of shared or emergent content involving minors.

Notes

The bill is sponsored (and co-sponsored) by Senator Aric Nesbitt and has been referred to the Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection.

As currently drafted, it sets stringent age-based prohibitions and a high-penalty enforcement framework that would shape how social media platforms operate in relation to Michigan’s minor users.