Michigan Bill Proposes Age Restrictions and Parental Controls for Social Media Use

Michigan legislators are considering a new bill aimed at regulating social media usage among minors to address growing mental health issues linked to online activity.

Introduced by Representatives Mark Tisdel, Donni Steele, and Tom Kuhn, the proposed legislation mandates that social media platforms with over 5 million users verify the age of all account holders. For users under 18, parental consent would be required to create or maintain an account.

The bill also stipulates that minors' accounts should not appear in search results unless connected through existing friendships. Additionally, it prohibits targeted advertising and the collection of personal information from these accounts.

To further protect minors, the legislation enforces a curfew, restricting social media access between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., unless adjusted by a parent or guardian. Parents would also have the ability to monitor their child's activity, including viewing posts and messages.

Representative Tisdel emphasized the importance of parental involvement, stating that if parents are responsible for addressing negative outcomes, they should have the authority to intervene proactively.

Similar measures have been proposed in other states. For instance, in 2024, Florida enacted a law requiring parental consent for social media users under 16, aiming to protect children from online risks to their mental health. However, such laws have faced legal challenges. In April 2025, a federal judge struck down an Ohio law requiring parental consent for users under 16, citing First Amendment violations.

Opponents of the Michigan bill argue that it may infringe on free speech rights and could lead to costly legal battles. They also point out that parents already have tools to monitor and limit their children's social media use.

The bill assigns the Michigan Attorney General the responsibility of establishing guidelines for age verification and ensuring the protection of users' information. Non-compliance by social media companies could result in fines of up to $2,500 per violation.

As the debate continues, Michigan joins a growing number of states seeking to balance the benefits of social media with the need to protect minors from its potential harms.