Parental Approval for Youth Social Media Act of 2026

the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act. (ii) Privileges and immunities.--Any person who violates this Act or a regulation promulgated under this Act shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.). (iii) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any other provision of law. (iv) Rulemaking.--The Commission shall promulgate in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, such rules as may be necessary to carry out this Act. (2) Enforcement by states.-- (A) In general.--In any case in which the attorney general of a State has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of the State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any person in a practice that violates this Act, the attorney general of the State may, as parens patriae, bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in an appropriate district court of the United States to-- (i) enjoin further violation of this Act by such person; (ii) compel compliance with this Act; (iii) obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on behalf of such residents; and (iv) obtain such other relief as the court may consider to be appropriate. (B) Rights of the commission.-- (i) Notice to the commission.-- (I) In general.--Except as provided in subclause (III), the attorney general of a State shall notify the Commission in writing that the attorney general intends to bring a civil action under subparagraph (A) before initiating the civil action. (II) Contents.--The notification required by subclause (I) with respect to a civil action shall include a copy of the complaint to be filed to initiate the civil action. (III) Exception.--If it is not feasible for the attorney general of a State to provide the notification required by subclause (I) before initiating a civil action under subparagraph (A), the attorney general shall notify the Commission immediately upon instituting the civil action. (ii) Intervention by the commission.--The Commission may-- (I) intervene in any civil action brought by the attorney general of a State under subparagraph (A); and (II) upon intervening-- (aa) be heard on all matters arising in the civil action; and (bb) file petitions for appeal of a decision in the civil action. (C) Investigatory powers.--Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to prevent the attorney general of a State from exercising the powers conferred on the attorney general by the laws of the State to conduct investigations, to administer oaths or affirmations, or to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary or other evidence. (D) Action by the commission.--If the Commission institutes a civil action or an administrative action with respect to a violation of this Act, the attorney general of a State may not, during the pendency of such action, bring a civil action under subparagraph (A) against any defendant named in the complaint of the Commission for the violation with respect to which the Commission instituted such action. (E) Venue; service of process.-- (i) Venue.--Any action brought under subparagraph (A) may be brought in-- (I) the district court of the United States that meets applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 of title 28, United States Code; or (II) another court of competent jurisdiction. (ii) Service of process.--In an action brought under subparagraph (A), process may be served in any district in which the defendant-- (I) is an inhabitant; or (II) may be found. (F) Actions by other state officials.-- (i) In general.--In addition to civil actions brought by attorneys general under subparagraph (A), any other officer of a State who is authorized by the State to do so may bring a civil action under subparagraph (A), subject to the same requirements and limitations that apply under this subsection to civil actions brought by attorneys general. (ii) Savings provision.--Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to prohibit an authorized official of a State from initiating or continuing any proceeding in a court of the State for a violation of any civil or criminal law of the State. (d) Definitions.--In this Act: (1) Child.--The term ``child'' means an individual who has not attained 16 years of age. (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal Trade Commission. (3) Educational platform.--The term ``educational platform'' means a district-sanctioned or school-sanctioned learning management system or school information system used for the education of students. (4) Parent.--The term ``parent'' includes a legal guardian of a child. (5) Parent-supervised account.--The term ``parent- supervised account'' means an account or profile of a child on a social media platform that provides a parent of such child with meaningful oversight tools that allow such parent to supervise and manage such child's use of the social media platform, including tools such as-- (A) the ability to access and manage the privacy and account settings of the account or profile; (B) the ability to establish or modify time limits regarding the child's use of the social media platform; (C) the ability to limit or disable direct messages or other private communications with other users of the social media platform; (D) the ability to limit, approve, or disable purchases and other financial transactions on the social media platform; (E) the ability to manage who may contact, follow, or otherwise interact with the account or profile; (F) the ability to view the child's activity and use of the social media platform; and (G) any additional oversight tools determined by the Commission to be appropriate through rulemaking. (6) Social media platform.-- (A) In general.--The term ``social media platform''-- (i) means a website or internet medium that-- (I) permits a person to become a registered user, establish an account, or create a profile for the purpose of allowing users to create, share, and view user-generated content through such an account or profile; (II) enables 1 or more users to generate content that can be viewed by other users of the website or internet medium; and (III) primarily serves as a medium for users to interact with content generated by other users of the website or internet medium; and (ii) does not include-- (I) an email service; (II) a text messaging service; (III) an educational platform; (IV) a video conferencing service; (V) online gaming where social interaction is incidental to the game being played; or (VI) a communication service or tool where social interaction is incidental to the primary function of such service or tool. (B) FTC ruleamking authority.--In order to address evolving technologies and platforms, the Commission may promulgate in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, rules to determine what websites or internet mediums meet the definition of ``social media platform''. (7) Social media platform provider.--The term ``social media platform provider'' means any person who, for commercial purposes in or affecting commerce, provides, manages, operates, controls, or manufacturers a social media platform. (8) Text messaging service.--The term ``text messaging service'' means a wireless messaging service, including such a service provided through short message service or multimedia messaging protocols that-- (A) is not a component of, or linked to, a social media platform; and (B) has a predominant or exclusive function of direct messaging consisting of the transmission of text, photos, or videos sent-- (i) by electronic means; and (ii) from the sender to the recipient. (9) Verifiable parental consent.--The term ``verifiable parental consent'' means any reasonable effort (taking into consideration available technology) to ensure that a parent of a child authorizes such child to create and maintain an account or profile on a social media platform. <all>