Children and Social Media
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S 268 — Children and Social Media
Last action — Referred to Committee on Judiciary
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 28, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Passed Senate
Current position in the legislative process.
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3 sponsors
3 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 1 recorded vote so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 80 TO TITLE 39 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A COVERED ONLINE SERVICE SHALL TAKE CARE IN THE USE OF A MINOR'S PERSONAL DATA AND IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SERVICE TO PREVENT HARM TO MINORS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE ONLINE SERVICE MUST PROVIDE MINORS WITH EASILY ACCESSIBLE TOOLS TO LIMIT TIME SPENT ON THE SERVICE AND PROTECT PERSONAL DATA, TO PROVIDE LIMITS ON HOW MUCH OF A MINOR'S DATA THE SERVICE MAY COLLECT AND RESTRICT THE USE OF SUCH DATA, TO PROVIDE THAT ONLINE SERVICES MUST OFFER PARENTS TOOLS TO HELP THEM PROTECT MINORS USING THE SERVICE AND TO ENABLE THEM TO REPORT HARMS TO MINORS ON ONLINE SERVICES, TO PROVIDE THAT ONLINE SERVICES MUST ISSUE A PUBLIC REPORT ON THE SERVICE'S PRACTICES PERTAINING TO MINORS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
10 added · 66 removedPlain-language change summary
The latest version of Bill S 268 has added a new requirement for online services, mandating that they provide parents with default tools to help protect minors using their platforms. This change is significant because it aims to enhance parental control and safety for children online. Additionally, the amended text includes a clearer definition of what constitutes an "educational entity," ensuring that a broader range of schools and institutions are covered under the bill. These updates demonstrate a focus on safeguarding minors in the digital environment while involving parents more actively in the process.
2025-2026 Bill 268 Text of Previous Version (Apr.(Jan.
24,28, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 268Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) Indicates Matter Stricken Indicates New Matter Committee ReportA Aprilbill 24, 2025TO AMEND S.THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER TO TITLE 39 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A COVERED ONLINE SERVICE SHALL TAKE CARE IN THE USE OF A MINOR'S PERSONAL DATA AND IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SERVICE TO PREVENT HARM TO MINORS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE ONLINE SERVICE MUST PROVIDE MINORS WITH EASILY ACCESSIBLE TOOLS TO LIMIT TIME SPENT ON THE SERVICE AND PROTECT PERSONAL DATA, TO PROVIDE LIMITS ON HOW MUCH OF A MINOR'S DATA THE SERVICE MAY COLLECT AND RESTRICT THE USE OF SUCH DATA, TO PROVIDE THAT ONLINE SERVICES MUST OFFER PARENTS TOOLS TO HELP THEM PROTECT MINORS USING THE SERVICE AND TO ENABLE THEM TO REPORT HARMS TO MINORS ON ONLINE SERVICES, TO PROVIDE THAT ONLINE SERVICES MUST ISSUE A PUBLIC REPORT ON THE SERVICE'S PRACTICES PERTAINING TO MINORS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.
268 Introduced by Senator Bennett S.
Printed 4/24/25--S.
Read the first time January 28, 2025 ________ The committee on Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry To whom was referred a Bill (S.
268) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Chapter 80 to Title 39 so as to provide that a covered online service shall take care in the use of a minor's, etc., respectfully Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, Section 39-80-10, by adding items to read:
(5) "Educational entity" means a South Carolina public school, charter school, the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, a private school, a community college, a state college, a state university, or a non-public postsecondary educational institution.
(6) "Interactive gaming platform" means a platform that is predominantly or exclusively designed to allow consumers to play or create video games.
An interactive gaming platform must comply with the requirements of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, 15 U.S.C.
§ 6501, and the regulations, rules, guidance and exemptions under that Act.
Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, Section 39-80-10(7), by adding subitems to read:
(d) an online service, website, or application used under the direction of an educational entity that is predominately or exclusively designed for educational purposes, including a learning management system, a student engagement program, or a subject or skill-specific program, where the majority of the content is created and posted by the provider of the online service, website, or application and the ability to chat, comment, or interact with other users is directly related to the provider's content;
(e) an online service, website, or application where the predominant or exclusive function is career development opportunities, including professional networking, job skills, learning certifications, and job posting and application services;
(f) an interactive gaming platform with a primary function of consumers playing or creating video games that complies with the requirements of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, 15 U.S.C.
§ 6501, and the regulations, rules, guidance and exemptions under that Act;
or (g) a broadcast television service, cable service, satellite service, streaming media service, or other service offering video programming described in section 713(h)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C.
§ 613(h)(2).
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
THOMAS DAVIS for Committee.
_______ A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER TO TITLE 39 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A COVERED ONLINE SERVICE SHALL TAKE CARE IN THE USE OF A MINOR'S PERSONAL DATA AND IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SERVICE TO PREVENT HARM TO MINORS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE ONLINE SERVICE MUST PROVIDE MINORS WITH EASILY ACCESSIBLE TOOLS TO LIMIT TIME SPENT ON THE SERVICE AND PROTECT PERSONAL DATA, TO PROVIDE LIMITS ON HOW MUCH OF A MINOR'S DATA THE SERVICE MAY COLLECT AND RESTRICT THE USE OF SUCH DATA, TO PROVIDE THAT ONLINE SERVICES MUST OFFER PARENTS TOOLS TO HELP THEM PROTECT MINORS USING THE SERVICE AND TO ENABLE THEM TO REPORT HARMS TO MINORS ON ONLINE SERVICES, TO PROVIDE THAT ONLINE SERVICES MUST ISSUE A PUBLIC REPORT ON THE SERVICE'S PRACTICES PERTAINING TO MINORS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.
Section 39-80-20. (A) A covered online service shall exercise reasonable care in the use of a minor's personal data and the design and operation of the covered online service, including, but not limited to, covered design features, to prevent the following harms to minors:
----XX---- This web page was last updated on AprilJanuary 24,28, 2025 at 02:4312:23 PM
Action History
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Introduced and read first time
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Read third time and sent to House
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-0
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Read second time
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Committee Amendment Adopted
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Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor, Commerce and Industry
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Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
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Introduced and read first time
Sponsors
- Senator Sean M. Bennett · Primary
- Senator Matthew W. "Matt" Leber · Primary
- Senator Carlisle Kennedy · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →3 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 167 not signed on
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (167)
167 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 167 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 43 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 43 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 96% | 0% | 0% | 4% |
How each member voted (45)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 268 do?
- A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 80 TO TITLE 39 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A COVERED ONLINE SERVICE SHALL TAKE CARE IN THE USE OF A MINOR'S PERSONAL DATA AND IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SERVICE TO PREVENT HARM TO MINORS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE ONLINE SERVICE MUST PROVIDE MINORS WITH EASILY ACCESSIBLE TOOLS TO LIMIT TIME SPENT ON THE SERVICE AND PROTECT PERSONAL DATA, TO PROVIDE LIMITS ON HOW MUCH OF A MINOR'S DATA THE SERVICE MAY COLLECT AND RESTRICT THE USE OF SUCH DATA, TO PROVIDE THAT ONLINE SERVICES MUST OFFER PARENTS TOOLS TO HELP THEM PROTECT MINORS USING THE SERVICE AND TO ENABLE THEM TO REPORT HARMS TO MINORS ON ONLINE SERVICES, TO PROVIDE THAT ONLINE SERVICES MUST ISSUE A PUBLIC REPORT ON THE SERVICE'S PRACTICES PERTAINING TO MINORS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.
- Who sponsors S 268?
- S 268 is sponsored by Senator Sean M. Bennett, Senator Matthew W. "Matt" Leber, and Senator Carlisle Kennedy.
- What is the current status of S 268?
- This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 28, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track S 268?
- Track S 268 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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