Ohio may require kids to get parental consent to use TikTok, Facebook, other social media

Ohio could soon make it easier for parents to restrict their children's access to TikTok, Snapchat and other apps.

Part of Gov. Mike DeWine's two-year budget proposal would require social media companies to get parental consent before allowing kids under age 16 to use their platforms. They would be tasked with creating a splash page that verifies the user's age and obtains the necessary consent from a parent or guardian.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said they must then send written confirmation to parents to ensure children aren't circumventing the system. If parents don't OK the terms of service, the companies would have to bar the kids from their apps.

More:To begin second term, Gov. Mike DeWine bans TikTok from state-owned devices

Users under 16 could verify their age multiple ways, including with government-issued identification, a signed digital form or by contacting a toll-free number.

The process would apply only to new account creation, but a Husted spokeswoman said he's open to ideas on how active accounts could be reviewed.

“The verdict is in on this: Social media is addictive, it is harmful to brain development, creates a lot of social disorders and has been really harmful to our children in many ways," Husted said. "It's pretty universally accepted that this is not good for kids."

Navigating how kids use social media

A 2021 study from Common Sense Media found 84% of teenagers have used social media, but just one-third of them said they enjoy it a lot. Among 8 to 12-year-olds, 38% had used social media and 18% reported using it every day. Both age groups saw an increase in screen time compared to 2019.

Social media can increase anxiety, lower self-esteem or make children and teens vulnerable to cyberbullying, according to Cleveland Clinic. In response, lawmakers in other states have discussed requiring age verification and banning anyone under 18 from using social media.

Husted said the proposal is part of a larger effort by DeWine's administration to improve the well-being of children. He hopes these companies will come to the table to hash out details and determine how the vetting process would work in practice.

Representatives for TikTok and Snapchat did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Meta touted company policies that are aimed at protecting teens, such as filtering out sensitive content. Meta uses artificial intelligence to detect someone's age and notes that not all young people have an ID. It also provides resources to help parents supervise their children's accounts.

"We’ll continue to work closely with experts, policymakers and parents on these important issues," the spokesperson said.

Husted contends existing policies don't go far enough. He and his wife ban some social media apps in their family, while placing filters and time limits on others.

“I am not trying to substitute my judgment for other parents’ judgment, but I want to make sure every parent is making a judgment, meaning the tech companies can’t go around them," he said. "Every parent will have to decide what limitations they want for their children or whether they want their children to have these applications at all."

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio could require parental consent for kids to use some social media