NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A new bill would require expressed parental permission for kids to use social media in Tennessee.
State Rep. Jake McCalmon (R-Franklin) is heading up a bill that would require social media sites to verify the age of anyone with an account. If that user is a minor, they’ll need a parent’s permission and proof of age.
“At the end of the day, it comes down to the parent to make the decision on whether or not they want their children to have access to it, so there’s no restriction on their freedoms of speech,” McCalmon explained. “This is empowering the parents to make the decision on what they want to see their kids to have access to.”
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Lawmakers told News 2 that House Bill 1891, dubbed the Protecting Children from Social Media Act, was written after seeing the data surrounding social media, teens, and mental health.
“Since the internet has boomed over the last several decades, unfortunately, it exposes our children to adult concepts that they absolutely should not be exposed to,” House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) said.