Executive Summary
Protecting Washington children online
Summary
Extra protections for people under 18
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- Apps and websites used by kids or teens must either verify users’ ages or apply stronger privacy protections to everyone under 18.
Limits on data collection
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- Companies can only collect the information they need.
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- Age‑check information can’t be reused or stored longer than necessary.
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- Personal information from kids under 13 generally can’t be collected or shared.
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- Student data can’t be used in ways that harm physical or mental health.
Less tracking and profiling
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- Apps can’t profile students by default or collect unnecessary data.
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- Location tracking is limited and must be clearly disclosed.
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- Apps can’t use tricks to push students to share more information or turn off privacy settings.
Privacy by default
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- Accounts start with strong privacy settings.
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- Privacy rules must be clear and easy to understand.
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- Students must be told when they are being tracked or monitored.
Protections from addictive features
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- Addictive feeds are not allowed for minors.
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- Minors can:
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- limit time on feeds,
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- hide like counts,
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- avoid algorithm‑driven content, and
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- keep accounts private.
Limits on notifications
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- Apps can’t send notifications late at night or during school hours without parent permission.
Key Points
Additional Information:
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- American teenagers who use social media over three hours each day face twice the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms
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- Limits to social media use can be up to 40% as effective as therapy at promoting emotional wellbeing
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- Young children often have few, if any, of the skills needed for online safety
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- Nearly two-thirds of youth are exposed to hate-based content on social media
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- Over one-third of teenagers admit they spend too much time on social media
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- 95% of teenagers say they use social media, with a third of those using it “almost constantly”
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- One-third of adolescents report using screens until midnight or later on weekdays
Ways to Get Involved
Steps to Get Started
- Learn where the bill is in the legislative process.
- If there is an upcoming hearing, decide how you would like to get your voice heard and take action.
- If there is not an upcoming hearing, or if you want to supplement your advocacy, call or write your legislators.
- Spread the word and get other people on board.
Participating in a Hearing
Sign in Pro, Con, or Other
This is when individuals, advocates, and organizations make their position on a particular bill known for the record. This is particularly powerful in large numbers. Many organizations will send out Action Alerts asking people to sign in Pro or Con on a bill.
Submit Written Testimony
Submitting written testimony is a great way not only to make your position known to legislators but also to explain why in more detail. This is a good option if you don’t want to speak in front of others. People also like to offer more nuance to their position by writing.
Testify Virtually
Since COVID, many legislators are allowing remote/virtual testimony for bill hearings, as it greatly expands access to the legislative process across the state. For this, individuals usually have between 1-2 minutes to state their opinion on a bill in front of the legislative committee on Zoom.