Parents react to proposed Alabama bill that would ban children from using social media
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — A newly introduced Alabama bill would limit access to social media for children 16 years old and younger.
State Representative David Faulkner of Hoover introduced AL HB235 the bill on Feb. 6 to the House Committee on Children and Senior Advocacy.
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If passed, the bill would require all social media platforms to implement an age verification process.
According to HB235, any social media platform that lets a child create an account could be fined up to $50,000, which would be for taking part in reckless and deceptive practices.
Parents who spoke with said it could help prevent internet crimes against children.
One of them was Irene Helveston, a mother who supports the bill.
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'These children don't understand the risk, and then they get put into that world,' Helveston said regarding social media's impact on children.
'And no one's there to save them; there's no one there that's going to help them,' Helveston continued. 'And that's just the biggest issue of all is there's not enough policing of social media to let children on there.'
Elizabeth Smith agreed as she is a mother of four and a teacher.
Smith told News 5 that there needs to be more protection for children when it comes to social media.
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'There's a lot of attacks that are coming for our children,' Smith said. 'Suicide rates, all of these things have a mental impact on our kids, and we need to speak up for them.'
'We need to be the voice to protect our children and keep them safe,' she continued.
If HB235 passed, all changes would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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