Connecticut Proposes Laws to Combat Youth Social Media Addiction

Governor Ned Lamont and Attorney General William Tong announced a legislative proposal during the 2026 regular session of the Connecticut General Assembly to combat youth social media addiction. The proposed laws would prohibit social media companies from using addictive algorithms and notifications for children and teenagers without parental consent. Key measures include establishing default privacy settings, restricting users under 18 to private accounts, and banning push notifications between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.

The legislation would mandate that companies verify users' ages and display mental health risk warning labels. To ensure transparency, platforms must submit annual reports to the state detailing the number of minors on their services and their average usage time. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. This initiative coincides with ongoing litigation by Tong against Meta and investigations into TikTok.

State Senator James Maroney supported the bill by citing concerns over youth suicide and mental health. While Connecticut moves toward stricter regulation, other states have faced hurdles; Indiana lawmakers recently removed similar social media restrictions from an omnibus education bill, citing potential First Amendment challenges and concerns over legal defensibility.