A new Nebraska law wants to make social media less addictive for kids

Nebraska is the last state to suppress how children can use social media. The State Governor, Jim Pillen, recently signed a set of bills aimed at restricting certain social media features that keep children hanging on the platform. The final invoice signed, called the Online design code deed adapted to agewill oblige companies to offer deadlines on use, to restrict certain categories of content and to provide chronological flows instead of those algorithmic which promote infinite scrolling.

The law on online design code adapted to age, also known as LB504, details that social media companies cannot perceive the minimum amount of personal data from young users and offers parents more tools to limit the way their children use their accounts. In addition to these restrictions, the law prohibits any advertising related to games, alcohol, tobacco or drugs to reach children on social networks.

In addition to LB504, the package signed by invoices includes LB140 which limits the use of smartphones students in schools, LB383 which obliges social media companies to verify the age of its users and requires parental consent for the creation of accounts, and LB172 which creates criminal penalties for pornography generated by AI-AI.

“Collectively, all of these invoices have an incredible impact on the help of our teachers and to give our schools the opportunity to teach our children, instead of being disturbed in class,” Pillen said in a press release. “They also provide parents with the tools they need to protect our children from large online companies and predators.”

The law should come into force on January 1, 2026 and all companies that violate these new regulations will be faced with civil sanctions. Nebraska is the last state to restrict the use of social media for minors, but Texas also tries to pass a Similar prohibition. With more efforts to regulate social media, Netchoice, an internet defense organization whose members include Google, Meta and X, expressed its criticism of the efforts of these states, arguing that they infringe the rights of the first amendment and the confidentiality of users. In 2022, California signed a similar law intended to protect users of minors, but it has since been in a legal battle Following a legal action filed by Netchoice which claims a violation of rights to freedom of expression.