H5209

South Carolina Social Media Regulation Act mandates age verification for minors, parental consent, and online safety education.

The South Carolina Social Media Regulation Act requires social media companies to verify the age of account holders, prohibiting minors under 16 from opening accounts without parental consent. It mandates parental consent through various methods, including email and video conferencing. Social media companies must implement measures to prevent minors from accessing harmful content and direct messaging from unconnected adults. The Department of Education will develop model programs for online safety education, which local boards of education can incorporate into their curricula.