Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs children's social media safety law

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 5511, the Children’s Online Social Media Safety Act, into law on July 31. The legislation, set to take effect in 2028, requires social‑media platforms to verify a user’s age through the device’s operating system and to apply stricter default privacy settings for anyone under 18.

The law bans the use of addictive algorithms that tailor feeds based on a minor’s viewing history, limits notifications to between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and obliges apps to obtain parental consent for in‑app purchases or other transactions. It also shields a minor’s precise location and restricts digital‑currency transactions. The bill was championed by state Rep. Jennifer Gong‑Gershowitz, who called the measures “common‑sense protections” for children’s mental health and sleep.

Pritzker said the law returns control of online safety to parents and curbs platforms’ profit‑driven designs that keep kids glued to screens.