Proposal would set curfews for children using social media in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (WGBW) – A proposal in the Wisconsin Legislature would set curfews for children in the state using social media.

According to Wisconsin Public Radio, Rep. David Steffen, a Republican from Green Bay, said that he would be willing to sponsor a bill that would give parents the keys to their children’s social media accounts and set a curfew for them in an effort to protect children from online bullying, harassment and trafficking.

The legislation hasn’t been introduced in Wisconsin but would be modeled after a law that was signed in Utah last month. According to NPR, that law prohibits children from using social media between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., mandates an age verification check for anyone trying to use social media in Utah and requires parental consent for children to sign up for social media accounts.

NPR’s report said that Arkansas, New Jersey, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas also have proposals in their legislatures, while California has already passed a law intended to prevent social media and tech companies from using personal information that could harm children. Federal law already bans children under the age of 13 from signing up for social media accounts.

Utah’s law would also prevent social media companies from promoting advertisements to children and wouldn’t allow children’s profiles to show up in search results. Utah’s law is set to take effect in March of 2024, according to NPR.