KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Massachusetts

H5295 • 2025

An Act relative to regulation of minors on social media

An Act relative to regulation of minors on social media

Children Technology
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Michael P. Kushmerek
Last action
2026-03-23
Official status
Referred to Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to regulation of minors on social media

An Act relative to regulation of minors on social media By Representative Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michael P.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to regulation of minors on social media By Representative Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michael P.
  • Kushmerek for legislation to further regulate social media accounts for persons under 16 years of age.
  • Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.
  • Status: Referred to Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-23 Senate

    Senate concurred

  2. 2026-03-09 House

    Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

  3. 2026-02-26 House

    Referred to the committee on House Rules

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to regulation of minors on social media
By Representative Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michael P. Kushmerek for legislation to further regulate social media accounts for persons under 16 years of age. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.
Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
×

Bill H.5295

SECTION 1. The General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 93L the following chapter:

Chapter 93M. Social Media Regulations for Minors.

Section 1. (a) For the purpose of this section

“social media” means a website or internet medium that— (i) permits a person to become a registered user, establish an account, or create a profile for the purpose of allowing users to create, share, and view user-generated content through such an account or profile; (ii) enables 1 or more users to generate content that can be viewed by other users of the medium; (iii) primarily serves as a medium for users to interact with content generated by other users of the medium; and (iv) excludes online platforms, including sites that provide primarily videoconferencing, emailing, or educational services.

(b) For the purpose of this section “child” shall mean a Massachusetts resident under the age of 16.

(c) A social media platform shall not allow individuals to create or maintain an account or profile if they are under the age of 16. A provider of such a platform must take reasonable steps to prevent children who have not reached a minimum age of 16 from having accounts.

(d) For children under the age of 16 with existing social media accounts, the social media platform shall terminate such accounts.

(e) The creation of a new social media account must be accompanied by documentation supporting age verification to the corresponding social media platform. Documentation supporting age verification shall consist of a birth certificate or valid government issued identification. This shall be a one-time or non-recurring verification. A social media platform will make reasonable attempts to verify the veracity of age and name provided in the documentation. Social media platforms shall not retain copies of identification documents after verification and shall not use such information for any purpose other than age verification.

(f) A verification system that has obtained personal data about a consumer from a source other than the consumer shall be deemed in compliance with a consumer's request to delete such data by deleting the consumer’s personal data retained by the system and not using such retained data for any other purpose pursuant to this chapter.

(g) Immediately upon the effective date of this chapter, the attorney general shall be in charge of compliance and may bring an action or special proceeding in the name and on behalf of the people of the commonwealth to enjoin any violation of this chapter.

Section 2. This chapter shall take effect immediately upon its passage.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Close