Virginia Governor Youngkin’s All or Nothing Approch to Social Media
For years, one topic has consistently managed to unite lawmakers from both sides of the aisle: social media and its effects on kids. In Virginia, bipartisan momentum led to a workable proposal—one that would have automatically limited screen time for users under 16 unless a parent opts out. Importantly, the bill stopped short of banning algorithmic feeds entirely.
Aber Governor Glenn Youngkin has since responded with a set of amendments that, while rooted in good intentions, make the bill significantly harder to implement and a lot less practical.
Parents, Not Politicians, Should Call the Shots
At the heart of this debate is a fundamental question: Who decides what’s best for kids? The compromise version of the Consumer Data Protection Act passed with unanimous support in the VA General Assembly and respected a simple but powerful principle—parents, not the government, should be in the driver’s seat when it comes to their children’s screen time.
Youngkin’s proposed changes that balance. He wants the default restrictions to extend until a teen turns 18 and seeks to limit features like auto-play and “instant scrolling,” which are core to how most apps function. But the original bill already handled the issue of overuse with its time limit provisions. Why go further?
Algorithms Aren’t the Enemy
Let’s be honest: the entire draw of apps like Instagram and YouTube lies in their ability to deliver content without users having to dig for it. Take that away, and you fundamentally change what those platforms are. Nobody wants to spend their time on Instagram searching for content. You’re there because you don’t know what you want. “Discovery” is the bulk of the fun and utility of this feature.
Ironically, algorithms are both the problem and the solution to most lawmakers’ concerns about content online. Yes, they can amplify harmful content—but they also help curate safer, more relevant experiences for younger users. A pure chronological feed, while seemingly “neutral,” can serve up just as much inappropriate material.
Parent Tools Already Exist
There’s no shortage of parental control options today. Apple, Google, and Amazon all offer robust tools to limit screen time, filter content, and monitor communication. In our home, we recently transitioned our 14-year-old from a Bark Phone to an iPhone, and we didn’t lose a step in terms of oversight.
From approving app downloads to shutting down unproductive apps, it’s all there. TikTok, Instagram, and others even have their own parental control features (though some require parents to download the app themselves, which is a fair concern for privacy-minded families).
So, What’s the Role of Government?
The compromise Virginia lawmakers reached wasn’t about stripping tech companies of their functionality. It was about nudging parents, many of whom are overwhelmed or unaware of the tools at their fingertips, into taking a more active role.
A one-hour default time limit isn’t a ban. It’s a prompt. It opens the door for conversations within families and encourages parents to set boundaries based on what works for them.
Don’t Forfeit a Compromise That Worked
Youngkin’s edits aim for a much broader and more restrictive approach, at the risk of throwing out a practical, consensus-driven solution developed by Virginia state delegates. What Virginia had was a smart, flexible policy that acknowledged both the value and the risks of social media.
Yes, regulation has a role here, like in any consumer-facing industry—but it should aim to empower families, not replace them. Virginia’s original bill struck that balance. Youngkin’s return to square one makes an already challenging bill for consumer choice even more fraught.
Das Consumer Choice Center ist eine unabhängige, überparteiliche Verbraucherschutzorganisation, die sich für die Vorteile von Wahlfreiheit, Innovation und Wohlstand im Alltag von Verbrauchern in über 100 Ländern einsetzt. Wir beobachten die Regulierungstrends in Washington, Brüssel, Ottawa, Brasilia, London und Genf aufmerksam. www.consumerchoicecenter.org.
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