Nebraska Family Alliance
Nebraska lawmakers heard testimony today on LB 383, the Parental Rights in Social Media Act, in the Judiciary Committee. Nebraska Family Alliance testified in support of the bill, introduced by Senator Storer at the request of Governor Pillen, which would require age verification and parental consent before minors can open social media accounts.
Currently, social media platforms allow children to create accounts without parental approval, exposing them to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and addictive features designed to keep them online longer. Research has shown a direct link between excessive social media use and increased stress, anxiety, depression, and self-harm among minors.
“This bill puts parents back in control and ensures children are not left vulnerable to the dangers of social media,” said Nate Grasz, Executive Director of Nebraska Family Alliance. “Parents, not tech companies, should decide when their child is ready for social media. This is a reasonable and commonsense measure to restore parental rights and protect kids online.”
LB 383 is a content-neutral bill that does not restrict speech or prevent social media access. It simply ensures that minors cannot bypass age restrictions without parental permission—just as parental consent is required for other activities that pose risks to children. Similar age-verification laws already exist for gambling and adult content.
Nebraska has an opportunity this session to strengthen parental rights and protect children online by giving parents essential oversight tools to monitor their children’s activity, privacy settings, and screen time.
Nebraska Family Alliance urges lawmakers to advance and pass LB 383 and equip parents with the tools they need to safeguard their children from online harm.