Tennessee's government has added a new layer to the minefield of social media regulation. Their latest move, led by Gov. Bill Lee, puts the onus on social media platforms to verify a user's age and hinges on a minor's ability to use these platforms on parental consent. As detailed by FOX 17, the "Protecting Children from Social Media Act," signed into law by Lee, is a first-of-its-kind legislation aiming to empower parents and guard young netizens against potential online harms.

Under the new law, detailed in HB1891/SB2097, any Tennessean under the age of 18 will have to have the backing of a guardian to create or sustain a social media presence. Current and prospective account holders will find themselves at a crossroads—their access to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook is now dependent on parental oversight. This major legislative move was highlighted by FOX 17, underlining the notion that parents need a direct hand in moderating their children's digital interactions.

The requirements don't stop at consent. As reported by Bloomberg Law, the law also compels social media companies to equip parents with supervisory tools to manage their children’s online activity. These include personalized privacy settings and the ability to impose time limits, potentially curbing excesses in the virtual worlds their kids frequent.

Despite Tennessee's firm action, similar legislation has met stiff resistance in other states, running afoul of the tech industry's heavyweight legal teams. Tech firms have previously cited First Amendment challenges, managing to stave off comparable restrictions in places like Arkansas and Ohio. The potential for legal pushback against Tennessee's aggressive stance remains, a battle perhaps foreshadowed by the outcomes elsewhere. Gov. Lee, however, remains undeterred, stating "Parents know best and we must empower them with tools to protect their kids online," according to The Center Square.

The ripple effects of this new policy will become evident come January 1 when the law takes effect. With the Tennessee attorney general granted power to sue non-compliant companies, social media giants are on legal notice. All eyes are now on the Volunteer State, as it charts a course toward unprecedented digital parental control, shaping the conversation on minors and their engagement on social media platforms on a national scale.