New Illinois law aims to rein in social media apps that get kids hooked on scrolling

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, August 1, 2026

Illinois has passed the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, which limits algorithmic content targeting minors, restricts their interaction with adults, and imposes privacy protections to reduce harmful social media effects on youth. Taking effect in 2028, this law makes Illinois one of the first states to regulate social media design to protect children’s mental health and online safety.

Illinois has enacted a new law aimed at limiting the addictive design features of social media platforms for children under 18. Signed Friday by Governor JB Pritzker, the Children’s Social Media Safety Act seeks to reduce the harmful impact of algorithm-driven content that can keep minors scrolling for extended periods, potentially affecting their mental health.

The legislation, unanimously approved by the state legislature in the spring, does not restrict the content accessible to young users but imposes limits on how content is presented. Under the new rules, minors’ feeds will be restricted to accounts they follow, organized in chronological order, eliminating algorithmic recommendations such as “for you” pages. Additionally, minors’ profiles will be hidden from adult strangers, and notifications will be disabled between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. to protect their privacy and well-being.

State Senator Wille Preston, the bill’s lead sponsor, emphasized the intent to shield children from harmful online exposure while supporting technological innovation. “We’re closing the door, and we will do everything within our power to make sure that the predators do not have access to the children within the state of Illinois,” he said. The law requires social media companies to implement an age assurance system to distinguish minors from adults without relying on invasive methods such as government identification or facial recognition.

Parents will play a central role in managing the new safeguards, providing their child’s age during device setup, which will trigger the protections. They will retain the ability to adjust these settings as needed. The law is set to take effect on January 1, 2028.

In addition to content presentation and privacy protections, the law limits minors’ ability to conduct digital currency transactions via these platforms and prohibits the display of their location data. It exempts certain online services such as news websites, broadband providers, email services, and learning management systems. Companies that violate the provisions face fines of $50,000 per infraction.

Supporters, including Governor Pritzker and state Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, highlighted the legislation as a necessary step in addressing social media’s influence on youth mental health. Gong-Gershowitz remarked that while the law is not a complete solution, it underscores the platforms’ responsibility to safeguard children’s development, allowing them to grow without the pressures of algorithm-driven content designed to capture attention.

Opposition came from groups such as the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, which criticized the measure as a move toward government oversight of speech and age verification protocols. Meanwhile, advocates like former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy have called for further measures, including warning labels on social media akin to those on tobacco products, referencing research linking certain online experiences to adverse mental health outcomes.

Illinois is now among the first states to impose formal design restrictions on social media aimed at protecting children, reflecting growing nationwide concern over the effects of digital environments on younger users.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.