Minnesota2026Passed Legislature
HF4138
Minnesota Social Media Rules for Minors and Transparency
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 3:39 AM
In one sentence
This law requires covered social media platforms to publish details about their algorithms, content quality checks, notification systems, and user engagement statistics.
What it does
- Requires covered platforms to post clear explanations of how they limit excessive account interactions on their websites.
- Mandates the publication of an explanation detailing how the platform assesses content quality and uses that assessment in its algorithmic ranking system.
- Requires statistics showing user engagement levels, including time spent on the platform, for various percentiles of all account holders.
- Defines 'addictive interface features' such as infinite scrolling, profile-based feeds, push notifications, autoplay videos, personal metrics displays, and awards or badges based on usage.
- Sets an effective date of July 1, 2027, for the new transparency requirements.
Who it affects
- Covered social media platforms with at least 10,000 account holders or $1 billion in worldwide revenue over one or more of the preceding three years.
- Children age 15 or younger who reside in Minnesota and have accounts on these platforms.
Limits and unknowns
- The provided text defines 'addictive interface features' and sets transparency rules, but does not include specific restrictions prohibiting these features for children.
- The bill distinguishes between a 'child' (age 15 or younger) and a 'minor' (under age 18), though the scope of protections in this excerpt is limited to definitions.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Covered social media platform
- A website or app with at least 10,000 account holders or $1 billion in global revenue that must follow the transparency rules.
- Addictive interface features
- Design elements like endless scrolling, automatic video playback, push notifications, and displays of follower counts intended to keep users engaged.
- Profile-based feed
- A list of content chosen or ranked by the platform based on a user's personal information rather than just what they explicitly selected.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Social media platform requirements established relating to accounts for minors, and enforcement mechanisms established for regulations on child social media accounts.
Official activity
Bill history
- Presented to Governor 05/20/2026House
- Presentment date 05/20/26Senate
- Returned from Senate with amendmentHouse
- Special Order: AmendedSenate
- Comm report: Rule 45-amend, subst. General Orders SF4696Senate
- Received from HouseSenate
- AmendedHouse
- House rule 1.21, placed on Calendar for the Day Tuesday, May 12, 2026House
- Author added SmithHouse
- Author added MyersHouse
- Committee report, to adopt as amendedHouse
- Author added BakerHouse
- Author added GreeneHouse
- Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Ways and MeansHouse
- Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Commerce Finance and PolicyHouse
- Author added SwedzinskiHouse
- Author added DavidsHouse
- Introduction and first reading, referred to Judiciary Finance and Civil LawHouse