<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>57451</law_id><section_number>59.1-577.1</section_number><catch_line>(Effective January 1, 2026) Social media platforms; responsibilities and prohibitions related to minors</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="59.1">Trade and Commerce</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="53">Consumer Data Protection Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> For purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x201D; means any natural person younger than 16 years of age. <a id="paragraph-210507" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-577.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">controller</span> or <span class="dictionary">processor</span> that operates a <span class="dictionary">social media platform</span> shall (i) use commercially reasonable methods, such as a neutral age screen mechanism, to determine whether a <span class="dictionary">user</span> is a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> and (ii) limit a <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s use of such <span class="dictionary">social media platform</span> to one hour per day, per service or application, and allow a <span class="dictionary">parent</span> to give verifiable parental <span class="dictionary">consent</span> to increase or decrease the daily time limit. <a id="paragraph-210508" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-577.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Information collected for the purpose of determining a <span class="dictionary">user</span>&#x2019;s age shall not be used for any purpose other than age determination and provision of age-appropriate experiences. For purposes of this section, any <span class="dictionary">controller</span> or <span class="dictionary">processor</span> that operates a <span class="dictionary">social media platform</span> shall treat a <span class="dictionary">user</span> as a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> if the <span class="dictionary">user</span>&#x2019;s device communicates or signals that the <span class="dictionary">user</span> is or shall be treated as a <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, including through a browser plug-in or privacy setting, device setting, or other mechanism. <a id="paragraph-210509" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-577.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring any <span class="dictionary">controller</span> or <span class="dictionary">processor</span> that operates a <span class="dictionary">social media platform</span> to give a <span class="dictionary">parent</span> who grants verifiable parental <span class="dictionary">consent</span> pursuant to subsection B any additional or special access to or <span class="dictionary">control</span> over the data or accounts of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>. <a id="paragraph-210510" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-577.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> No <span class="dictionary">controller</span> or <span class="dictionary">processor</span> that operates a <span class="dictionary">social media platform</span> shall withhold, degrade, lower the quality of, or increase the price of any <span class="dictionary">online service, product, or feature</span> to a <span class="dictionary">user</span> due to the <span class="dictionary">controller</span> or <span class="dictionary">processor</span> not being permitted to provide use of such <span class="dictionary">social media platform</span> beyond the one hour per day, per service or application, daily time limit under subsection B. However, nothing in this section shall be construed as (i) requiring a <span class="dictionary">social media platform</span> to provide an <span class="dictionary">online service, product, or feature</span> that requires the personal information of a known <span class="dictionary">minor</span> or (ii) prohibiting a <span class="dictionary">social media platform</span> from offering a different price, rate, level, quality, or selection of goods or services to a known <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, including offering goods or services for no fee, if such behavior is reasonably related to the exercise of rights pursuant to or compliance with the requirements of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-210511" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-577.1/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2025, c. 703.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
