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Virginia now limits social media use to one hour per day for children younger than 16, though questions remain about enforcement, privacy and the law’s constitutionality.
The restriction took effect Jan. 1, 2026, after Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed it into law in May 2025. It expands the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, which former Gov. Ralph Northam signed in 2021 and which had been in effect since 2023 to give residents greater control over their personal data.
Adapted physical education teacher Chelsea Rain welcomed efforts to reduce children’s screen time but questioned who should be responsible for monitoring it.
“I’m glad that the government is taking action,” Rain said. “But it’s kind of a gray line of who should really be monitoring the amount of time that children are on social media.”
Under the updated law, platforms must use “commercially reasonable methods” to determine whether a user is under 16. That could include built-in age checks, such as asking users to provide their birthdays.
Freshman Kate Holbrook said those measures could raise privacy concerns and may not prevent determined children from accessing social media.
“For some people, the social media screen time limit might feel like an invasion of privacy,” Holbrook said. “Also, kids will find a way to go on social media anyway.”
How the restriction will be enforced remains unclear because social media companies are responsible for regulating users’ activity. Parents may raise or lower the one-hour limit after providing verifiable consent.
“I’m scared about this policy,” Holbrook said. “I feel like my parents would probably get mad at me for all of my screen time.”
The law is already facing a court challenge. YouTube and Meta, acting through the online-business trade association NetChoice, have sought an injunction against Virginia.
NetChoice argues that the updated Consumer Data Protection Act infringes on platforms’ First Amendment rights and is overly broad because it does not identify specific harms that social media causes young children.
The association called the measure “the latest attempt in a long line of government efforts to restrict new forms of constitutionally protected expression based on concerns about their potential effects on minors” in a motion filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Despite the constitutional questions, supporters say the restriction addresses concerns about young teenagers spending excessive amounts of time on social media.
“Overall, the more that we crack down on social media now, I think it’ll just be better in the long run,” Rain said. “Right now, you can find yourself just scrolling for hours, and there is no benefit to that.”
Holbrook noted that social media can also help young people express themselves, launch businesses and connect with others who share their interests.
“It’s also a lot of people’s jobs,” she said. “Social media allows people to connect with others, and to connect with people all over the world.”
With the limit still in its early stages, its long-term effects remain uncertain.
“The limit is gonna be a challenge,” Rain said. “But all new things have growing pains, so I think in the long run, it’ll be really good for all the kids.”