Proposed social media restrictions for minors could pave the way for a broader shift toward mandatory digital ID systems.
Efforts to regulate social media for minors are gaining momentum across multiple states, but these measures could have far-reaching consequences beyond child safety. Connecticut’s proposed House Bill 6857, along with similar legislation in Nebraska and Utah, seeks to curb algorithmic recommendations, impose time restrictions, and introduce stricter age verification requirements.
While proponents argue these policies will help protect young users from harmful content and excessive screen time, they also accelerate the push toward mandatory digital ID systems that could undermine online anonymity. As governments and corporations increasingly require users to verify their identity to access platforms, the internet may shift toward a more monitored and controlled digital space, raising concerns about privacy and personal freedom.
Connecticut’s bill is part of a broader national trend pushing for tighter age verification rules, many of which rely on digital ID systems that could make anonymous online access increasingly difficult.
Nebraska’s LB383, the Parental Rights in Social Media Act, would require social media companies to implement “reasonable age verification” to block minors from accessing platforms unless a parent provides consent. According to Unicameral Update, acceptable verification methods would include digital IDs and third-party age authentication services, though these entities would be required to delete personal data after verification.
Critics of digital ID expansion warn that once identity checks become standard, they could be applied beyond social media, gradually eroding the ability to browse the internet freely and anonymously.
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