Beginning January 2026, Virginia's new law enforces a one-hour daily limit on social media use for users under 16, mandating age verification for platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Co-sponsored by educator Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, the law reflects concerns about the negative impacts of social media on youth. While the bill sets a precedent in children's online privacy, its enforcement mechanisms remain vague, and parents retain the ability to adjust limits for their children, raising questions about practical implementation and compliance in managing screen time.
"We know social media is negatively impacting kids; at school, home and in their community," he wrote on X. "This bill is a national leader in tackling those issues by setting as a default a limit on kids time on social media apps."
The law is an amendment to the state's Consumer Data Protection Act and puts the onus on social media companies like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube to verify users' ages.
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