With growing concerns about teen mental health—ranging from sleep disturbances and anxiety to eating disorders and cyberbullying—Indiana lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 199 to protect young users from some of these online pressures. Senate Bill 199, a proposal aimed at protecting youth mental health by regulating social media access for minors. As of June 2024, the bill has passed the Senate and awaits a House vote.
🛡️ What SB 199 Does
- Age Restrictions & Verification
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Requires social media platforms to verify the age of users aged 14 to 17 and obtain written parental consent before allowing them to create accounts.
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Under-14 accounts are banned entirely.
- Screen-Time Controls
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Introduces a curfew, blocking teen accounts from logging in between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Algorithm Restrictions
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Bans platforms from showing algorithm-generated content to teens, aiming to reduce addictive “scrolling loops” and harmful social comparison.
- Privacy Safeguards
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Establishes limits on how personal data can be collected, stored, and used—ensuring age verification protects privacy.
- Enforcement & Legal Action
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Violations can trigger action from the Attorney General and potentially allow parents to file civil suits if platforms bypass requirements.
🧠 Why It Matters
Supporters (including Indiana Dept. of Education Secretary Katie Jenner) point to alarming mental health trends. Kids report increased anxiety, disordered eating, and cyberbullying due to unchecked social media use. By adding rules around accounts and access times, the bill aims to help kids grow up with healthier boundaries online. [theindianalawyer.com], [newsbreak.com]
🔍 Remaining Questions
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Enforceability & Technology: Critics worry about age-verification tech glitches and teens using VPNs or fake IDs to bypass restrictions. Major tech companies and digital rights groups have opposed similar proposals in other states.
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Parental Rights & Free Speech: Some argue the bill infringes on parents’ autonomy and users’ First Amendment rights.
In short:
SB 199 imposes age limits, curfews, algorithm restrictions, and privacy protections to help reduce mental health risks for teens. If passed, social media use by minors in Indiana could look very different soon, aiming for a safer and more mindful digital experience.
Author: Jennifer Spencer, PhD, HSPP is the owner of Spencer Psychology, and a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience in mental health counseling in Bloomington IN. Spencer Psychology is committed to providing compassionate expert care in-person and by telehealth for Bloomington, the surrounding area and by telehealth for all of Indiana.