Virginia Lawmakers introduced the Consumer Data Protection Act signed by Governor Youngkin that took effect January 1, 2026, its purpose is to limit social media consumption to minors under 16 years old. Virginia’s decision to limit screen time is an attempt to keep youth safe and lessen effects of bad metal health. The monumental influence social media has on young minds changes how they think about themselves and others, also leaching into their lives in the real world. This act should help to get parents more involved in children’s lives online as government and parents should both regulate kids’ consumption.

Details regarding the law include 1-hour limit on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, requiring age verification in order for parents to be the only ones to change the settings. Parents advocate for this act quoted in news articles, Lindy Barone says “I think it is helpful to parents because you can’t always be there to monitor what your children are doing, so I say I think it’s a positive”. Adding it is both the government/companies and parent’s responsibility to regulate consumption as apps shouldn’t be made so addictive just because they want to make money and should care about the effect they have on people’s lives.

Through the eyes of those affected they could disagree with this law not being able to see the problems and effects that overconsumption have on themselves and peers. Mixed opinions show through everything lawmakers and parents see a positive while kids see a negative disrupting their daily life. One opinion a student has believes “the law seems like a good choice to regulate peoples screen time; I think it is a good thing for teens but will definitely change what I do daily” says Delta Mangieri (11).

Reading other articles and news the majority believe this is a step in the right direction, especially for younger children who are more susceptible to wrongly influential apps and news.