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DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to better regulate social media and protect youth.
“Right now, it’s far too easy for youth to purchase illicit substances and illegal firearms on social media sites – we need to do more to protect our kids online,” said Rep. Andy Boesnecker, D-Fort Collins. “This bipartisan bill would require social media companies to ramp up their reporting methods and swiftly remove buyers and sellers who violate the companies’ illegal sales policy and state law. As a state, it’s important we step in when our children are being lured toward illegal drugs, firearms, or sex trafficking on unregulated marketplaces – this bill works to keep our kids and communities safe.”
SB25-086, also sponsored by Representative Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, passed committee by vote of 11-2. This bill aims to protect youth by requiring social media companies to provide an annual report to the Attorney General’s Office with
detailed data about their policies and enforcement, with specific reporting related to illegal activity occurring through their platforms including:
Firearms sales in violation of state and federal law
Sales of illicit substances
Sex trafficking of minors
Possession, display, sale, exchange, or creation of sexually exploitative material involving minors
Social media companies also must report on how youth are using the platform and interacting with content related to these illegal activities. This bill also intends to speed up the timeline for social media companies to determine if a violation has occurred to 72 hours and 24 hours to remove a proven violator.
This bill also aims to improve public safety by creating a hotline for Colorado law enforcement to follow up on warrants submitted to social media companies. This aims to speed up the legal process for Colorado law enforcement, so they can move forward with their cases faster.
For example, Facebook has an explicit policy not allowing the sale of firearms or ammunition between private individuals, but buyers and sellers can violate that policy up to ten times before they’re removed from the site. Additionally, social media companies collectively generate nearly $11 billion in advertising revenue from users under 18 yet are often exposed to drugs, firearms, sex trafficking and sextortion of minors on these sites.