Illinois Enacts Children’s Social Media Safety Act

On July 31, 2026, Governor JB Pritzker signed regulations targeting social media corporations and “addictive algorithms” that keep children glued to their devices.

House Bill 5511, known as the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, imposes requirements on social media companies and how they present their applications to users under 18 years old. The Children’s Social Media Act will take effect in 2028 and was Pritzker’s top priority, receiving bipartisan support in both Illinois chambers.

Pritzker stated, “Big social media companies have intentionally designed their platforms to keep kids online for as long as possible.” Additionally, Pritzker stated that social media companies feed children an unrealistic concept of life, sell products, and push agendas to achieve an unrealistic lifestyle.

Under House Bill 5511, social media companies must confirm a user’s age through the device’s operating system. If a user’s age is below 18, this statistic would trigger the restrictions drafted in House Bill 5511.

Pritzker describes these restrictions as “common sense protections.” They do not censor information; rather, they take decisions about child safety away from social media companies and place them back under parental control.

Additionally, House Bill 5511 increased privacy settings. This includes shielding a minor’s precise location, limiting digital currency transactions, and prohibiting sending notifications to minors between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The Illinois Attorney General’s office will enforce this law. Violators would be liable for fines of up to $2,500 per child for unintentional violations and up to $7,500 per child for intentional violations.

Tech companies oppose House Bill 5511. Lobbyists for these companies raised First Amendment concerns that could potentially trigger lawsuits against the state of Illinois. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Motion Picture Association, TechNet, and the ACLU opposed the final version of the bill.

While this bill is a step in the right direction, the dynamic between social media and children is sensitive and important for parents and legal guardians to monitor.

For more information related to House Bill 5511 or legislation influencing social media, please contact the qualified attorneys at Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC.