Certain social media platforms would bar Alaska users under 16

Covered platforms would block Alaska residents under 16 from becoming account holders and close their existing accounts. The rules cover Alaska residents under 16. Covered platforms let users share or view content and use automated rules to select it. Account holders include people with profiles and people identified by a unique identifier while using the platform. Email-only and private-message-only services are excluded. Users would have 90 days to dispute required closures, including accounts treated as likely belonging to someone under 16 for targeted content or advertising. Platforms would permanently delete information tied to terminated accounts unless a law requires keeping it. Coverage requires at least 10 percent of regular U.S. users under 18 to average at least two hours on days they use the platform, plus a listed feature such as endless scrolling, push alerts, or automatic video playback. Regular users must use the platform on at least 80 percent of days. Both usage tests look back 12 months, or one month if the platform did not exist throughout the previous 12 months. If enacted, the rules would take effect January 1, 2027. Platforms would close accounts when the 90-day period ends if users fail to successfully dispute closure, or within five business days of an under-16 resident’s closure request.

Covered platforms would not use Alaska minors’ personal data in automated systems that suggest, promote, or rank content. This applies to Alaska account holders under 18 on covered social media platforms. Personal data includes contact information and other online information combined with identifying details. Services used only for email or private direct messages are excluded. Platforms could show user-created content that minors select, follow, or subscribe to when it appears in time order. The definition of personal data excludes device type, language, city or town, and age. Coverage requires at least 10 percent of regular U.S. users under 18 to average at least two hours on days they use the platform, plus at least one listed feature, such as endless scrolling. Regular users must use the platform on at least 80 percent of days. Both usage tests look back 12 months, or one month if the platform did not exist throughout the previous 12 months. If enacted, these limits would take effect January 1, 2027.

Parents or guardians could sue for harmed minors, and courts could award damages meant to punish platforms in cases brought by Alaska’s attorney general. The separate lawsuit option covers Alaska account holders under 18 harmed by a covered platform’s violation. A parent or guardian must bring the case in superior court. Alaska’s attorney general could enforce the rules and issue regulations. A minor’s lawsuit would require a knowing or reckless violation that harmed the minor. Damages meant to punish a platform in an attorney general case would require a pattern of knowing or reckless violations. Private lawsuits under the cited state consumer-protection law would be barred for these violations. Minors using the separate lawsuit option could still pursue other available remedies. If enacted, these provisions would take effect January 1, 2027. A minor’s lawsuit must be filed within one year after the parent or guardian discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, the alleged violation.