Michigan lawmakers are considering a bill that would require social media platforms to verify users’ ages and get parental consent for anyone under 18.
House Bill 4388 would apply to platforms with at least 5 million users. Teens could only create accounts after a parent or guardian approves them. Once approved, the account would be classified as a “minor account” and include additional restrictions.
Parents who provide consent would be able to access their child’s posts and private messages. They could also set nighttime curfews to limit when their teens use the platform, unless they manually disable the feature.
Supporters of the bill say it would give parents more oversight as concerns rise about youth mental health and the influence of social media. One sponsor compared agreeing to social media terms of use to signing a contract, arguing that parents—not young children—should hold that responsibility.
Schools in Michigan have reported challenges in managing students’ social media activity, highlighting the need for parental guidance, according to lawmakers.
However, digital rights groups warn the proposal could create new privacy and security risks. Molly Buckley, an activist with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said the bill would force users to give up key protections.
“People will have to sacrifice anonymity to access the internet,” Buckley said. “This means personal data could be collected, stored, or breached, and used by bad actors linking identities to online activity.”
Buckley also argued the legislation could limit young people’s freedom to express themselves online. “It could impact privacy, security, and the ability of teens to develop their identities and voices while participating in public conversations,” she said.
The proposal is currently in the House Regulatory Reform Committee. It has not yet advanced to a full vote in either the House or Senate.
A similar bill aimed at requiring parental consent for social media use failed in 2024, showing that this is an ongoing debate in Michigan politics. Lawmakers supporting the measure say they are focusing on protecting minors, while critics argue it could compromise online rights and privacy.
If passed, Michigan would join a growing number of states considering stricter rules for teen use of social media, signaling an increasing concern over youth safety, digital wellbeing, and parental oversight.
