US state Virginia passes law limiting children’s social media use to one hour per day

Virginia has passed a new law restricting social media use for children under 16 to one hour per day, unless extended by verifiable parental consent. The legislation, signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin on 8 May 2025, amends the state’s Consumer Data Protection Act and is intended to address growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health.

Under the law, social media companies are required to verify users’ ages and ensure minors do not exceed the one-hour limit unless parents opt to modify usage through app-based controls. The regulation does not apply to platforms primarily used for email or messaging. The amendment also prohibits social media companies from using collected age-related data for any purpose beyond age verification.

Governor Youngkin described social media as contributing to a youth mental health ‘crisis,’ and initially advocated for the restriction to apply to all users under 18. While the Senate supported the broader age range, the House rejected it.

Though the law was passed with bipartisan support, its enforcement remains unclear. Experts, including Professor Jen Golbeck of the University of Maryland, question its practical effectiveness, citing the ease with which minors can bypass age checks.

This move aligns with a broader national trend. Similar efforts have been seen in Utah, where legislation was proposed to restrict minors’ access to social media at night without parental approval. However, such initiatives have drawn opposition from industry-backed groups and raised concerns about effectiveness and potential circumvention.

Virginia’s amended law reflects a broader societal concern among US states to regulate children’s digital habits, but its success may hinge on how rigorously platforms implement age verification and how enforcement mechanisms are developed.