Minors in Virginia just lost most of their social media time under new law

Virginia sets a clock on kids’ screen time

Virginia is now enforcing a law that limits how long kids under 16 can spend on social media each day. Attorney General Jay Jones announced in February 2026 that his office would move forward with enforcement.

The law, which took effect Jan. 1, 2026, caps use at one hour per day per app on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.

Services limited to email or direct messaging, like Gmail or WhatsApp, are not covered.

One hour per app, parents can change it

The law sets a default one-hour daily limit for any user a platform identifies as under 16. That means one hour on TikTok and a separate hour on Instagram.

Parents or guardians can raise or lower that limit by giving verifiable consent through the app. Platforms cannot cut service quality or raise prices for minors because of the restriction.

The limit is a floor and a ceiling until a parent steps in.

Platforms must check users’ ages

Social media companies now have to use reasonable methods to figure out if a user is under 16. That could mean neutral age-screening tools built into the app.

Any data collected for age checks cannot be used for other purposes.

If a user’s device sends a signal that they should be treated as a minor, the platform must follow it. The law puts the screening responsibility on the companies, not the families.

Companies face steep fines for violations

The attorney general’s office will notify companies found breaking the law and give them 30 days to fix it. If a company does not act, the AG can file enforcement actions.

Fines can reach up to $7,500 per violation, and each affected user counts as a separate one. That math adds up fast for large platforms.

Virginia families can report violations to the AG’s Consumer Protection Section directly.

The bill passed with no opposition

Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed SB 854 into law on May 2, 2025.

The bill amends the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act and received unanimous support in the Virginia General Assembly, with backing from both parties.

An earlier version included broader measures, such as banning addictive content feeds and covering all users under 18, but lawmakers removed those provisions to build wider support.

The final version focused on the time limit and age-screening requirements.

Tech industry filed a lawsuit in Nov.

NetChoice, a trade group whose members include Meta, Google, Amazon, Snap, and Reddit, filed a federal lawsuit on Nov. 17, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The group argues the law violates the First Amendment by restricting minors’ access to protected speech. NetChoice also claims the law runs into problems with the Commerce Clause because it affects interstate business.

The lawsuit put enforcement on hold while the case moved through court.

Judge has not ruled on blocking the law

A hearing on NetChoice’s request to temporarily block the law took place on Jan. 16, 2026. U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles said a written opinion would follow, but she has not issued one yet.

Jones’ office filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on Jan. 26, and a Feb. 4 court order paused action on that motion until the judge rules on the injunction request first.

The Virginia Attorney General press release noted the office wants to keep Virginia’s children safe from predatory social media companies.

Courts blocked similar laws in other states

NetChoice has challenged social media laws for minors in several states, and courts have permanently blocked similar laws in Arkansas and Ohio on First Amendment grounds.

A California law restricting addictive feeds for minors was partially blocked by a federal judge. Virginia’s case may turn on how the court weighs child safety against free speech.

The outcome here could influence what other states try next.

Surgeon General warned about social media in 2023

Lawmakers pointed to growing concern about screen time, mental health, and addictive platform design when they wrote the law.

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory warning that social media poses a risk to youth mental health.

The advisory found that up to 95% of teens ages 13 to 17 use social media, with more than a third using it almost constantly.

Adolescents who spent more than three hours a day on social media faced a higher risk of depression and anxiety symptoms, according to the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory on social media and youth mental health.

Tech groups say parents should make the call

NetChoice argues the government should not set time limits on speech and that parents are better positioned to make these decisions.

The group says many platforms already offer parental controls and separate experiences for younger users.

NetChoice also raised concerns that age verification requirements could create privacy and security risks for all users, including adults.

The AG’s office countered that NetChoice cannot sue on behalf of Virginia’s children or adults, and that the law does not restrict what content platforms can publish.

Some apps already apply the rules unevenly

Early reports suggest platforms are applying the law inconsistently. Some apps introduced strict age-verification steps, including requiring a parent to scan an ID.

At least one major platform reportedly allowed minors to bypass the one-hour limit with a simple tap, without any parental involvement.

How well companies comply in the coming weeks may determine whether the AG moves to take enforcement action against specific platforms.

What Virginia families need to know now

The law applies only to users under 16 and does not change anything for adults. Parents can adjust their child’s daily limit through in-app parental controls.

The law does not give parents additional access to their child’s account data.

Families can report violations by filing a complaint with the AG’s Consumer Protection Section or calling the hotline at 1-800-552-9963.

The court case continues, and Judge Giles has not yet issued her ruling on whether to block the law.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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