Starting January 1, children in Virginia under the age of 16 will be limited to one hour of social media use per day. Governor Glenn Youngkin signed the bill into law, giving parents more support in controlling their children’s screen time.
Ashley Mullins, a mother of two, supports the law and is already thinking about how to apply it in her home.
“It makes sense. I think kids are on their phones too much,” Mullins said. “They love their tablets and TV. I see a real change when I cut back on it.”
The new law will require social media platforms to use “commercially reasonable methods” to verify users’ ages. If a user is younger than 16, the platform must limit their daily use to one hour. Parents will also be able to set even stricter limits if they choose.
The bill passed with bipartisan support, but not all parents are confident the law will work as intended.
“I get what he’s trying to do,” said John Wray, a father of three. “But kids are smart. They’re going to find a way around it.”
Nancy Hans, executive director of the Partnership for Community Wellness, said this law is part of a bigger need for responsible digital parenting.
“You wouldn’t give a six-year-old car keys and tell them to drive,” Hans said. “This is a digital highway, and it has no seatbelts. Parents need to be thoughtful and involved.”
Eddie Worth, a leader at the Safe Surfin’ Foundation, said that cutting down social media time is about more than just screen limits—it’s about safety.
“This is a serious problem. It’s a crisis. We have to give our children a safe way to use the internet,” Worth said.
Worth also praised another law signed by Youngkin this year. It creates an Internet Safety Advisory Council, which will help Virginia schools teach students how to stay safe online.
Earlier this year, 10 News reported that the Safe Surfin’ Foundation developed a new safety app. It will be launched in West Virginia schools this fall. Worth said he hopes Virginia adopts it too.
“I’ve spent 20 years talking to kids across the country,” he said. “I learned they won’t open up to adults like they will with each other. That’s why this peer-to-peer program works. We’d love to see it in Virginia.”
However, the new law may still face legal challenges before it begins in January. Similar laws in other states have been blocked by courts due to constitutional concerns.
