OKLAHOMA CITY- (KOKH) — A number of bills aiming to protect kids on social media were heard in a Senate committee Thursday.
“The word of the year last year for 2024 was brain rot. That should show you how much of an issue that this is for our citizens and for the people I sit here and represent,” said State Senator Ally Seifried.
Along with a handful of other social media bills related to kids, Senate Bill 885, also known as the Safe Screens for Kids Act, was heard and passed Thursday in the Senate Technology and Telecommunications Committee.
The bill would do a number of things, including not allowing a minor to create an account without consent from their parent or guardian, providing parents full access to the minor’s account and its activity and not allowing social media companies to collect data from minors.
But fellow State Senator David Bullard questioned how that last measure would be carried out.
“These companies aren’t based here. These companies- most of them that you’re talking about are in California,” he said. “How does the state provide the authority to block a company in California?”
Seifried responded, saying she sees several states standing up and trying to tackle the issue.
“I think ultimately my goal…I want to send a signal that Oklahoma is for protecting our kids and we see these negative effects,” she said.
Other bills aiming to protect kids online also passing committee with little debate, including Senate Bill 931, which would make social media companies prioritize maximum privacy of a minor’s account, and Senate Bill 932, which would allow parents or guardians to bring legal action against social media companies if an adverse mental health outcome happens.
The bills will now go to the next legislative process in the Senate before receiving final approval to the house for consideration.
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