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Read. Follow. Verify.Alabama Restricts Minor Access to Recommendation Algorithms and Sets Notification Hours on Social Media Platforms
Last action · February 24, 2026: Re-referred to Committee in House of OriginSponsor: Ben Robbins
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What This Bill Would Do
The bill restricts online platform operators from using algorithmic recommendations for users under 18 unless age verification or parental consent is obtained, limits notification hours between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, and mandates default limits on minor usage starting October 1, 2026.
Online platform operators face potential liability under the if they fail to implement age-verification methods, strict default usage limits, and annual public reporting starting by March 1, 2028.
- State legislatures across the United States have increasingly introduced bills aimed at regulating social media companies and protecting minor users online through age verification and parental controls. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
covered minors
Minors under 18 face restrictions on algorithmic feed access, notification hours, and default daily usage limits.
covered operators
Platform providers must alter default settings, build parental control mechanisms, verify ages, delete verification data, and publish annual statistics.
parents or legal guardians
Guardians gain rights to give verifiable consent, request more stringent platform settings, and specify notification and time limits.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies as a covered minor under this bill?
What are the restricted hours for sending notifications to minors?
What happens if a platform violates these provisions?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
3 actions- Feb 24, 2026HouseCommitteeRe-referred to Committee in House of Origin
- Jan 13, 2026HouseCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Children and Senior Advocacy
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Deceptive Trade Practices Enforcement
The measure ties compliance with minor online safety mandates directly to state consumer protection enforcement under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Connected Entities
Sources
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
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