Governor Says Legislation Would Keep Kids Safer Online

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted joined mental health experts at a news conference to discuss how they want to keep kids safe online.

There is legislation that would require children in Ohio under 16 to get permission from their parents to use social media. It’s called the Social Media Parental Notification Act.

Governor DeWine spoke with the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services about the proposal.

DeWine also pushed for more in the state budget to keep mental health initiatives like this a priority.

“The Surgeon General and children’s health experts have concluded that these platforms are responsible for negative physical and mental health outcomes for a generation of our children and it is our responsibility to protect them by holding social media companies accountable for the consequences of what happens on their platforms,” said Lt. Governor Husted.

“Requiring social media companies to get parental approval before children under 16 have access to these addictive platforms is one way we can help parents protect their children.”