Children under 16 would need parental permission to view social media

Social media operators would have to verify a parent or guardian's permission before letting a child under 16 view social media. The rule covers social media accessible in Indiana. It excludes gaming-only services, workplace communication tools, and email-only apps, among others. Parents and guardians could withdraw permission at any time. Operators would have to provide a way to do so. The rule would take effect July 1, 2026.

Social media operators would have to protect information collected and sent under these rules. This covers information social media operators collect or send under the parental permission rules. Operators would have to use security methods reasonable for a business. They would have to keep any collected information they retain in encrypted form. The security rules would take effect July 1, 2026.

Indiana's attorney general could investigate suspected violations and sue operators that break the parental permission rule. Lawsuits under this rule would target social media operators. Investigative demands could target anyone suspected of violating the chapter. An operator with no earlier lawsuit or violation notice under this rule would first get a notice and 90 days to fix the problem and show proof. If it did not fix the problem, the attorney general could seek a court order, a penalty of up to $250,000, and investigation and lawsuit costs. The attorney general could demand information during an investigation with reasonable cause to suspect that someone violated these rules. These enforcement rules would take effect July 1, 2026.