Colorado Social Media Safety Initiative for Youth

Introduction

On June 7, 2024, Colorado enacted a groundbreaking law aimed at safeguarding children from the negative impacts of social media. This legislation, known as HB24-1136, mandates that social media platforms send pop-up notifications to users under 18 who spend more than one hour on the platform daily, and every 30 minutes thereafter. Additionally, notifications are required for usage between 10 PM and 6 AM. The law also emphasizes the importance of digital literacy by establishing an educational resource bank for Coloradans.

Key Features:

• Pop-up Notifications: Alerts about the mental and physical health impacts of social media usage.
• Digital Literacy Programming: Resources to educate users on safe social media practices.
• Support from Common Sense Media: The organization played a crucial role in advocating for this legislation, highlighting the need for accountability from social media companies.

Use Cases:

• For Parents: Helps parents monitor and guide their children's social media usage.
• For Educators: Provides tools to teach students about responsible social media use.
• For Policymakers: Sets a precedent for future legislation aimed at protecting youth in the digital age.