Indiana Governor Seeks Parental Feedback on New Social Media Law

Republican Gov. Mike Braun calls for input on legislation requiring age verification and parental approval for minors on social media.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Indiana Governor Mike Braun is asking parents to provide feedback on the state's new social media law, which requires social media companies to verify the ages of account holders and get parental approval for minors under 16. The law, set to take effect on January 1, 2027, aims to address concerns about online safety for teenagers following the disappearance and death of a Fishers teenager who communicated with a man through an online gaming platform.

Why it matters

The new social media law is a response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people's mental health and safety. By seeking parental input, Governor Braun hopes to ensure the law effectively addresses these issues while balancing the needs of families and social media companies.

The details

The new law will require social media companies to verify the ages of anyone applying for an account. If the person is younger than 16, the companies must get parental approval, and the person's account could not have features such as autoplay, infinite scrolling or algorithm-generated content suggestions. Lawmakers have been working on a social media bill for a couple of years, but the efforts gained new traction after the disappearance and death of a Fishers teenager who communicated with a man through an online gaming platform.

  • The new social media law will become effective on January 1, 2027.
  • The 2026 legislative session ended on Friday.

The players

Gov. Mike Braun

The Republican governor of Indiana who is seeking parental feedback on the state's new social media law.

Hailey Buzbee

A Fishers teenager whose disappearance and death prompted new efforts to pass the social media law.

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What they’re saying

“We shouldn't have to be, as legislators across the country, worrying about stuff that you could fix to begin with. We did as much as we could with the time that we had and I'm proud of what we got done. Parents, people using it, paying for it, need to tell Big Tech, fix your own problems.”

— Gov. Mike Braun (wishtv.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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