Governor Signs “Children’s Social Media Safety Act”

(Undated) — A new state law aims to protect children on social media. Friday, Governor, J.B. Pritzker, signed the “Children’s Social Media Safety Act.” House Bill 5511 imposes a series of requirements on social media companies and how they are to interact with users under 18 years old. The law was one of Pritzker’s top priorities during the spring legislative session and received unanimous support in both chambers. Under the law, social media platforms in use in Illinois are required to strengthen their default privacy settings for users under 18 and limit the use of algorithms designed to keep young people scrolling. The law also includes provisions to shield the precise location of minors and provides further limits on digital currency transactions. The new law will take effect in 2028.