New Idaho law enacts social media restrictions for minors
Caroline MolloyIdaho Republican Gov. Brad Little on April 2 signed legislation requiring social media companies to obtain parental consent before allowing minors on their platforms and to restrict features that lawmakers say contribute to youth addiction and mental health harms.
The law, called the Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act, or SHASM Act, applies to platforms generating more than $1 billion in annual advertising revenue, including services operated by Meta such as Facebook and Instagram. It is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Under the law, users 16 and younger must have accounts set to the strictest privacy settings by default, with any changes requiring parental approval. Companies are also barred from serving paid advertisements to minors and from using certain design features — including infinite scrolling and excessive push notifications — without parental consent.
The legislation passed the Idaho House 62-5 and the Senate 21-14.
Supporters say the law targets what they describe as intentionally addictive platform design.
“They built these platforms knowing that they’re addicting our youth to something they can’t say no to,” Rep. Jaron Crane, a Republican and the bill’s House sponsor, said during floor debate Feb. 9.
He compared the effects of social media use on children to substance dependency, saying, “the dopamine hit from social media addiction equals any lethal drug.”
State Sen. Cindy Carlson, the bill’s Senate sponsor, said during legislative hearings that children lack the capacity to manage the pressures created by social media platforms.
Carlson said the bill aims to respond to concerns of “teen suicide and mental health issues linked to online bullying and social media use,” KLEW TV reported.
The law also creates a private right of action, allowing families to sue companies for violations, including claims tied to mental health harm and emotional distress.
The legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which backed the bill, praised its passage.
