Georgia’s new law targets online safety for teens | Here’s what you need to know

MACON, Ga. — Nowadays, social media use starts early, and a new law in Georgia hopes to better regulate young kids’ social media use. But already, the bill has faced some legal headwinds even before the law goes into effect.

The National Institutes of Health estimates that 40% of children ages 8 to 12 use social platforms. Among teens ages 13 to 17, that number more than doubles, with nearly 90% reporting social media usage.

Concerns about screen time and online safety have prompted some parents to limit their children’s exposure. Trisha Trevolis, a mother of four children under age 10, said her family prioritizes outdoor activities to avoid excessive phone use. 

“We try to go outside as much as possible to avoid cell phones,” Trevolis said. 

She added that her children’s online activity is limited to YouTube Kids, and sometimes scrolling with her through Facebook, but she closely monitors their usage. 

“There’s a lot of content out there that is inappropriate and I don’t feel that’s the right way to bring your children up,” she said. “Too much screen time causes behavioral issues.”

Most major social media apps now offer parental controls and security features. Johnathan Yerby, a professor of computer science and cybersecurity at Mercer University, said Facebook Messenger is among the best for parental oversight. 

“The kid can’t even begin a chat unless the parent approves it,” Yerby said.

In Georgia, a new state law aims to further protect minors online. Senate Bill 351 requires social media platforms to verify users’ ages. Children under 16 will need parental permission to create or maintain accounts. 

It is up to the platforms to choose how parents give consent but it could include signing, printing and faxing platforms or scanning an I.D.

The law, which takes effect July 1, also bans social media use in schools which Yerby worries could negatively impact teachers. 

“Even though she is allowed or he is allowed to view that YouTube video, the configuration of the network, they probably didn’t take the time to set those granular settings, and so that’s going to create issues as well,” Yerby said.

Sen. John F. Kennedy, who sponsored the bill, called it a first step in protecting children online. 

“If there are more ways that we can bring these protections to children in a better way, we’ll certainly be looking at doing that in the future,” Kennedy said.

He added that the law is intended to reduce cyberbullying, classroom distractions and absenteeism. He also acknowledges that the bill prohibits platforms from collecting data from or targeting advertisements to minors.

“If we find that there are bad actors out there on the social media platform network, so to speak, and the methods that we have in place are tightening up their behavior so that they’re compliant,” Kennedy said.

However, both parents and experts acknowledge that tech-savvy kids may find ways to circumvent new restrictions. 

“As soon as the parent begins to understand it or get it set up, the app is going to change it, the kid is going to figure it out and it’s still going to be a mess,” Yerby said.

The professor also points out that a federal judge in Arkansas recently ruled a comparable law-Act 689-unconstitutional, citing violations of both First Amendment free speech rights and Fourteenth Amendment due process protections. 

“That law in Arkansas has been struck down,” the professor said, adding that Georgia’s law could meet a similar fate if challenged in court. “I do expect that there’s going to be some challenges to this law from both social media providers and from civil liberties groups.”

Legal challenges are already underway. NetChoice, an industry association, has filed suit in federal court, arguing that Georgia’s law unlawfully restricts access to protected online expression and compels users to surrender private information simply to use basic digital services. 

When we asked Kennedy if he thought any push back would arise from the bill he said, “The bill’s about 31 pages long, I think it’s very balanced. I think it was carefully crafted, with everything in mind to make sure that some of the issues that you’re raising aren’t infringed upon.”

Yerby had a few other concerns in regards to the crossover of school and parental control.

“That’s going to be interesting how the school system will continue to maintain the security and integrity and control of the device, in school and out of school, but also give parents more input on what’s on that device,” Yerby said.

This law doesn’t just impact children, it will also affect adults who want to access adult content, requiring age verification through driver’s licenses. However, the law prohibits sites from retaining users’ personal information.

Yerby said the most effective approach remains parental involvement. 

“Just be involved in your kids’ lives, check in with your kid, talk to your kid,” he said.