Nebraska’s Social Media Crackdown Starts in 2026
Categories: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Digital Safety, Online Safety, Social Media
- Nebraska’s LB383 (Parental Rights in Social Media Act) makes parental consent mandatory for under-18s creating new social media accounts.
- The law becomes operative on July 1, 2026 and requires platforms to run “reasonable age verification” at sign-up to determine whether a user is a minor.
- Approved age checks can include digitized ID or other commercially reasonable methods, and platforms may use third-party verification vendors.
- Vendors and platforms are barred from retaining identifying information after verification is complete, but users still have to submit sensitive data to prove age.
- Parents gain expansive controls, including access to posts and direct messages, plus the ability to change privacy settings and monitor/limit screen time.
- Non-compliance can trigger civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation (Nebraska AG enforcement), and the statute also allows a private right of action for certain violations.
Nebraska has approved a new law that will significantly change how minors access social media. Under legislation known as LB383, children will soon need verified parental permission to create social media accounts. The Parental Rights in Social Media Act provisions become operative on July 1, 2026. This is one of a four-bill package designed to “protect children online”. LB383 specifically is designed to empower parents to protect their children from the real harms that can come from social media.
The bill was introduced by Senator Tanya Storer at the request of Governor Jim Pillen and passed the state legislature with a strong majority. Supporters argue the law is necessary to protect children from online harm and to address concerns around declining teen mental health linked to social media use.
How Nebraska’s LB383 Bill Actually Works
Once the law becomes operative, social media platforms must use reasonable age verification for people seeking to create accounts. If the user is under 18, the platform must obtain verified parental consent before allowing the account.
Reasonable age verification includes presentation of a digitized identification card or any commercially reasonable method, and platforms may use a third-party vendor. The company/vendor may not retain any identifying information after verification is complete.
Additionally, the law notes a private right of action – an “aggrieved person” can bring a civil action against platforms, not just AG enforcement. This applies to violations of Section 28, and attorney’s fees are at the court’s discretion.
Expanded Parental Access
The law also requires social media platforms to give parents extensive control over their child’s account. Parents must be able to view all posts made by the minor, access direct messages and responses, adjust privacy settings, and monitor or limit screen time.
This level of access represents a major shift in how teen accounts are managed and raises questions about privacy and independence for young users.
Penalties and Legal Concerns
Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to $2,500 per violation, with enforcement handled by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.
Despite passing comfortably, the law is expected to face legal challenges. Technology companies and advocacy groups have warned that mandatory age verification could violate free speech protections and introduce new privacy risks. Critics also argue that enforcing these rules at a state level creates compliance challenges and sets a precedent that other states may follow.
What This Means for Online Privacy Going Forward
More verification usually means more data sharing. Even when laws promise limited data retention, the act of verifying age still requires sensitive information. Over time, this erodes anonymity and makes it harder for users to control how much of their identity is tied to their online presence.
How Redact Can Help Protect Your Privacy
As regulation and age gates expand, platforms may add friction or limits around account access and changes – which could include content deletion. Cleaning up your digital footprint now reduces future risk of it being locked.
Redact helps by letting you erase posts, comments, likes, and messages across 25+ platforms now, while those platforms are still available to access.
Taking control of your digital history early can reduce risk if future rules limit what users are allowed to change later.
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