Va.'s plan to restrict social media for minors faces pushback and calls for tighter safeguards
As Virginia moves to limit social media access for minors under 16, a national child safety group is urging Gov. Glenn Youngkin to strengthen protections for families navigating the digital world.
The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) is calling on the governor to make parental controls more accessible and user-friendly as he reviews recently passed legislation aimed at addressing the growing concerns over social media's impact on children's well-being.
'We really want families to have these conversations about how much time you should be spending on certain apps and engaging the entire family in these online discussions about your digital lives,' said Marissa Edmund, policy specialist at FOSI, a non-profit organization focused on making the internet safer for kids and their families.
Edmund said FOSI applauds Virginia's efforts to prioritize children's online safety, emphasizing that policy decisions should be rooted in evidence and research. Among the group's key recommendations: integrating digital media literacy and ensuring that parents can implement uniform safety settings across all devices and apps.
Youngkin has yet to indicate whether he will push for changes to the proposal. Before his departure, spokesman Christian Martinez said the governor is currently reviewing 917 bills passed by the General Assembly, noting that 'it's common that during this time, hundreds of stakeholders write letters seeking action.'
Last November, Youngkin launched Reconsidering Childhood, a statewide initiative aimed at reducing excessive screen time and protecting children from social media addiction. The campaign encourages Virginians to pledge a 25% reduction in their time spent on smart devices this year.
Senate Bill 854, sponsored by Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, aims to curb excessive screen time by limiting minors to one hour of social media use per service per day while giving parents the ability to adjust that cap. It also includes provisions to ensure that data collected for age verification is used solely for that purpose.
A separate, stricter measure introduced by Del. Josh Thomas, D-Prince William, sought to require parental consent for minors to access 'addictive' feeds, which generate content recommendations based on user activity. That bill, however, failed in the House General Laws Communications Subcommittee. Thomas said he was concerned that social media algorithms could expose children to content they had not intentionally sought out, making parental involvement necessary.
Social media companies pushed back, arguing that such regulations could reduce the relevance of content for minors while placing an unreasonable burden on parents. Some companies have pointed to existing parental control tools that already allow families to limit what children see online.
VanValkenburg's current bill leaves out addictive feed restrictions, a provision that was included in a similar measure he proposed last year. Instead, it focuses on the responsibilities and prohibitions placed on social media companies, particularly it comes to verifiable parental consent and age verification.
His 2024 bill never made it out of the House General Laws Subcommittee, largely due to concerns from lawmakers and technology industry representatives about how companies would comply with the law without clear guidelines or penalties.
The Virginia Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) later examined the issue and found that existing age verification laws are 'ineffective' in protecting children from harmful content. A report from the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) noted that these laws often fail to uphold their intended purpose.
Virginia's efforts are part of a growing national debate over online safety for minors, with more than 40 states introducing or passing laws aimed at strengthening protections on social media or adult content websites.
According to the ICMEC study, 19 states now require websites that host a significant amount of mature content to verify the ages of users before granting access, while 27 states have enacted laws requiring social media companies to confirm the ages of users and adjust the online experience for minors.
Some of these laws mandate verifiable parental guardian consent before a child can download an app or place restrictions on content algorithms that promote addictive engagement.
ICMEC has raised concerns that such laws also create data privacy risks, forcing users to submit personal information across multiple platforms and increasing the likelihood of data breaches and misuse. The organization also cited constitutional challenges related to protected speech and described enforcement on a per-platform basis as 'infeasible.'
Despite these concerns, JCOTS still recommended the proposal to the General Assembly, suggesting that lawmakers define key social media features — such as infinite scrolling and autoplay — to better understand how such policies could impact the Office of the Attorney General.
VanValkenburg's latest bill has incorporated expanded definitions and includes feedback from Virginia's chief prosecutor to address some of these concerns. While the final version of the legislation is not exactly what he originally envisioned, VanValkenburg said the revised bill still accomplishes its intended goal.
'What we have now is a slightly different bill that I think gets to the same purposes, maybe not exactly like I wanted to, but I think it actually is substantive and does a good job,' VanValkenburg said during his return to the House General Laws subcommittee in February.
The bill now awaits Youngkin's decision. He has until later this month to either amend or approve the legislation as written.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fox News
10 hours ago
- Fox News
Youngkin unleashes cutting-edge AI technology in effort to slash Virginia's government red tape
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is embarking on a landmark project to use "agentic" artificial intelligence to hasten his 2022 pledge to cut one-quarter of Virginia's red-tape regulatory structure during his tenure. The term-limited Republican signed an executive order that introduced a pilot program using AI to scan the entirety of Richmond's regulations and official guidance. "We ask each agency to calculate the savings to them associated with any action that is taken. For more information about our methodology, I would point you to the Regulatory Economic Analysis Manual, which can be found online," Youngkin spokesperson Peter Finocchio told Fox News Digital. "AI is utilized in two key ways in this process: comparing existing regulations with what is actually required by statute, to identify any redundancies, and comparing Virginia's regulations to those in other states, to see if other states are accomplishing similar goals more efficiently and with less red tape." "AI is utilized in this way to make recommendations, but there is always a human in the loop making the final decisions, which is required by Executive Order 30," Finocchio added. Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence that differs from typical reactive bots like ChatGPT or Grok that provide information based on prompts, and instead can be programmed to pursue a goal, make autonomous decisions and take actions. Driverless cars like Waymo taxis are another real-world example of such technology. AI will "supercharge" the Youngkin administration's efforts, his office said in a statement, and help ensure that government is streamlined and modernized to better serve the people of the Old Dominion. "We have made tremendous strides towards streamlining regulations and the regulatory process in the Commonwealth. Using emergent artificial intelligence tools, we will push this effort further in order to continue our mission of unleashing Virginia's economy in a way that benefits all of its citizens," said Youngkin, who was a successful executive in the private sector before entering government. The AI tool will alert the state to any areas in which regulations are redundant, contradictory or overbroad. State agencies will then be able to use the AI platform in the future as well to continue breaking down the barriers to effective governance. "The 'Virginia model' for regulatory modernization has become the gold standard across the U.S., with other states and federal agencies looking to replicate our reforms," Virginia Regulatory Management Director Reeve Bull said. "With this newest initiative, Virginia will continue to lead the nation, becoming the first state to launch an agentic AI tool to power the regulatory reduction process," Bull added. Thus far, state government guidance documentation has been culled by nearly half, as roughly 48% of the total word counts have been deleted. That figure adds to the 26% of regulatory requirements statewide that have been either streamlined or eliminated, resulting in an estimated $1.2 billion annual taxpayer savings. The state indicated that there are still some agencies in Richmond that have not met Youngkin's 25% goal laid out in his original order.

USA Today
13 hours ago
- USA Today
French plan to recognize Palestinian state draws fire from Israel, US
PARIS/WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) - France intends to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday in hopes of bringing peace to the region, but the plan drew angry rebukes from Israel and the United States. Macron, who unveiled the decision on X, published a letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming France's intention to press ahead with Palestinian recognition and work to convincing other partners to follow suit. "True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the state of Palestine," Macron said. "I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September." More: Israel and US recall teams from Gaza truce talks, US says Hamas not showing good faith Home to Europe's largest Jewish and Muslim communities, France will become the first major Western country to recognise a Palestinian state, potentially fuelling a movement so far dominated by smaller nations generally more critical of Israel. The news sparked anger in Israel and Washington. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision by one of Israel's closest allies and a G7 member, saying such a move "rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy." In a post on X, he added, "A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. "Let's be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel." Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the move as "a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism," adding that Israel would not allow the establishment of a "Palestinian entity that would harm our security, endanger our existence." More: More than 100 aid, rights groups call for action as hunger spreads in Gaza In response, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States "strongly rejects (Macron's) plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly." In a post on X, he said, "This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th." Earlier, Canada also pressed Israel to seek peace, with Prime Minister Mark Carney condemning its "failure to prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza" and reiterating support for a two-state solution. Carney also accused Israel of violating international law over the blocking of Canadian-funded aid to civilians in the war-torn Palestinian enclave. More: Ms. Rachel says she won't work with anyone who hasn't spoken out about Gaza "Canada calls on all sides to negotiate an immediate ceasefire in good faith," he added. "We reiterate our calls for Hamas to immediately release all the hostages, and for the Israeli government to respect the territorial integrity of the West Bank and Gaza." In a diplomatic cable in June, the United States said it opposed steps to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state, even saying it could go against U.S. foreign policy interests and draw consequences. In June, Washington's ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said he did not think an independent Palestinian state remained a U.S. foreign policy goal. President Donald Trump has himself expressed doubts about a two-state solution, proposing a U.S. takeover of Gaza in February, that was condemned by rights groups, Arab states, Palestinians and the U.N. as a proposal of "ethnic cleansing". Macron had been leaning towards recognising a Palestinian state for months as part of a bid to keep the idea of a two-state solution alive, despite the pressure not to do so. More: UK, France and 23 other nations condemn Israel over 'inhumane killing' of civilians French officials initially weighed up the move ahead of a United Nations conference, which France and Saudi Arabia had planned to co-host in June to lay out parameters for a roadmap to a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel's security. The conference was postponed under U.S. pressure and after the 12-day Israel-Iran air war began, during which the closure of regional airspace made it hard for representatives of some Arab states to attend. It was rescheduled and downgraded to a ministerial event on July 28 and July 29, with a second event taking place with heads of state and government on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September. CREATING MOMENTUM The decision to make the announcement ahead of next week's conference aimed to give the French team at the United Nations a framework to work with other countries that are also considering recognising a Palestinian state or have misgivings in doing so. Diplomats say Macron has faced resistance from allies such as Britain and Canada over his push for the recognition of a Palestinian state. About 40 foreign ministers will be in New York next week. Israeli officials have spent months lobbying to prevent what some have called "a nuclear bomb" for bilateral ties. Sources familiar with the matter say Israel's warnings to France have ranged from scaling back intelligence sharing to complicating Paris' regional initiatives - even hinting at possible annexation of parts of the West Bank. Israel has been waging a devastating war in Gaza since the Palestinian militant group Hamas' deadly attack on Israel in October 2023 and says recognising a Palestinian state now would be equivalent to rewarding Hamas. Thanking France, the Palestinian Authority's Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh said on X that Macron's decision reflected "France's commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state." (Reporting by John Irish; Additional Reporting by Enas Alashray and Yomna Ehab in Cairo and Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Clarence Fernandez)
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
France to recognise Palestinian statehood defying US-Israel backlash
France faces sharp criticism from Israel and the US after announcing plans to recognise Palestinian statehood, in a bold move to revive peace efforts. In a contraversial diplomatic move, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France will formally recognise the state of Palestine this September at the United Nations General Assembly. Sharing the news via social media platform X, Macron described the step as part of France's historic commitment to a 'just and lasting peace' in the Middle East. 'I have decided that France will recognise the state of Palestine,' Macron wrote in a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, which he also made public. 'I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September.' Israel's war and settlements a strategy to block Palestinian state: legal expert Backlash from Israel, US This declaration positions France as the first major Western power to take such a step – potentially setting the stage for a broader shift in international recognition. Until now, most countries that have recognised Palestine tended to be smaller nations with more critical stances on Israeli policy – including Ireland, Spain and Norway Unsurprisingly, the move has triggered sharp backlash from both Israel and the United States. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision, calling it a 'reward for terror' and warning that a Palestinian state under current conditions would threaten Israel's existence. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz went further, branding the decision 'a disgrace' and vowing to resist any efforts to establish a Palestinian state that could compromise Israeli security. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed similar concerns. Labeling Macron's decision 'reckless,' he said it bolstered Hamas and undermined hopes for peace. 'It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th,' he said in his own statement on X. Israel slams French plan to recognise Palestinian state as a 'prize for terror' Push for a two-state solution However, Macron appears undeterred. French officials have indicated that the announcement is designed to give fresh impetus to the long-stalled two-state solution, and to galvanise other nations into action. About 40 foreign ministers are expected in New York next week for a diplomatic conference aimed at discussing the way forward. France hopes its position will provide a framework for those countries that are on the fence about recognition. The path to this announcement hasn't been smooth. A planned UN conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia in June was postponed under US pressure, especially after regional tensions spiked during the brief Israel-Iran air war. The event has since been rescheduled as a ministerial gathering in late July, with another high-level meeting planned for the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September. In thanking France, Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh said Macron's move 'reflects France's commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination.'