Illinois House Approves Bill to Regulate Social Media Algorithms for Minors

Legislation seeks to make children's social media feeds less addictive

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:40pm

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A fragmented, abstract painting depicting a smartphone screen with overlapping, repeating social media app icons in shades of blue, green, and gray, conveying the chaotic and addictive nature of social media.The Illinois legislature's move to regulate social media algorithms aims to curb the addictive nature of digital platforms and protect children's mental health.Springfield Today

The Illinois House of Representatives has voted 82-27 to pass the Children's Social Media Safety Act, a bill proposed by Governor JB Pritzker that aims to regulate social media companies and the features they make available to minors. The bill requires platforms to allow users to input their age, which would trigger certain settings for users under 18 to prevent addictive features like persistent data tracking and notifications during late hours.

Why it matters

This bipartisan legislation is a response to growing concerns from parents and lawmakers about the negative impacts of social media addiction on children's mental health and well-being. By targeting the design features that keep kids 'glued and addicted to the screen,' the bill seeks to create a safer online environment for young users.

The details

The bill mandates that social media feeds for minors cannot be personalized based on their previous activity and interactions. Users must follow a creator directly to see their content, and additional content can only be provided when the user searches for it. Platforms will also be required to have default privacy settings for minors that block addictive features like location sharing and in-app purchases. Companies that violate the law will face fines.

  • The Children's Social Media Safety Act was passed by the Illinois House on April 17, 2026.
  • The new regulations are set to take effect in 2028.

The players

JB Pritzker

The Governor of Illinois who proposed the Children's Social Media Safety Act.

Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz

The Democratic sponsor of the bill in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Rep. Nicole La Ha

A Republican member of the Illinois House who supports the bill as a mother of school-aged children.

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What they’re saying

“'What this bill is really designed to address is the weaponization of your data, your personal habits in a way that keeps kids glued and addicted to the screen.'”

— Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Bill Sponsor

“'Up until this point, we haven't had a lot of guardrails when it comes to social media use in our state. Being a mom of school aged children, I think it's really important that we start to have those conversations.'”

— Rep. Nicole La Ha, Republican Member

What’s next

The bill now moves to the Illinois Senate for consideration. If passed, the new regulations on social media platforms would take effect in 2028.

The takeaway

This bipartisan legislation in Illinois represents a growing national effort to address the negative impacts of social media on children's mental health and wellbeing. By targeting the addictive design features of social media platforms, the bill aims to create a safer online environment for young users.