Tougher Social Media Rules For Kids Proposed By MD Lawmakers

Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Sen. Chris West as a Democrat. West is a member of the Republican party. Patch apologizes for the error.

ANNAPOLIS, MD — State lawmakers are considering a proposed law that would require companies like Google and YouTube to improve privacy and online safety for Maryland children using social media.

Lawmakers unveiled the Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code Act this week, which mirrors a similar act passed in the United Kingdom in 2020. The U.K. law requires tech companies to prioritize the safety and well-being of kids when designing their platforms and online products.

"As children spend more of their time interacting with the online world, the impact of the design of online products on their well–being has become a focus of significant concern," Maryland's proposed measure reads. "There is widespread agreement at the international level, and bipartisan agreement in the United States, that more needs to be done to create a safer online space for children to learn, explore, and play."

According to a Pew Research Center study cited in the bill, 97 percent of American teenagers use the internet daily, with 46 percent claiming they use it almost constantly.

According to the study, about 36 percent of teens said they were concerned with their social media use.

Maryland's bill was introduced by Democratic Sen. Benjamin Kramer of Montgomery County and Republican Sen. Chris West, who represents parts of Baltimore and Carroll counties.

If passed, the legislation would have implications for numerous social media companies. TikTok may have to turn off the option for strangers to message kids, NBC Washington reported. Google would have to turn on safe search by default, and YouTube would have to disable autoplay for anyone under 18.

The legislation would also restrict profiling and data collection, require high privacy settings by default, and turn off geolocation for kids.

Maryland is among at least six U.S. states to consider stricter online safety measures based on U.K. law, according to the Washington Post.

New Mexico, Oregon, New York and New Jersey lawmakers have also introduced bills closely resembling those in the United Kingdom, the Post reported. At the same time, lawmakers in California last year became the first to pass a measure into law.

Maryland Del. Jared Solomon is among lawmakers advocating for the bill's passage, according to the Post. He said the measure could be on the books within a couple of months.

Solomon told the Post the measure would make the internet a "safer space for kids."

"If your business model is solely designed around manipulating and, frankly, harming young people in order to make money, then maybe we need to think about a different business model," he said.