Safeguards for minors

(a) Safeguards for minors (1) Safeguards A covered platform shall provide a user or visitor to the covered platform, that the covered platform knows is a minor, with readily accessible and easy-to-use safeguards to, as applicable, do each of the following: (A) Limit the ability of other users or visitors to communicate with the minor. (B) Limit by default design features that result in compulsive usage of the covered platform by the minor. (2) Option A covered platform shall provide a user that the covered platform knows is a minor with a readily accessible and easy-to-use option to limit the amount of time spent by the minor on the covered platform. (3) Default safeguard settings for minors A covered platform shall provide that, in the case of a user or visitor that the platform knows is a minor, the default setting for any safeguard described under paragraph (1) is the option available on the platform that provides the most protective level of control that is offered by the platform with respect to privacy and safety for that user or visitor. (b) Parental tools (1) Tools A covered platform shall provide readily accessible and easy-to-use parental tools for parents to support a user that the platform knows is a minor with respect to the use of the platform by that user. (2) Requirements The parental tools provided by a covered platform under paragraph (1) include each of the following: (A) The ability to manage the privacy and account settings of a minor, including any safeguard and option established under subsection (a), in a manner that allows parents to— (i) view the privacy and account settings; and (ii) in the case of a user that the platform knows is a child, change and control the privacy and account settings. (B) The ability to restrict purchases and financial transactions by the minor, if applicable. (C) The ability to view metrics of total time spent on the covered platform and restrict time spent on the covered platform by the minor. (3) Notice to minors A covered platform shall provide clear and conspicuous notice to a user when the tools described in this subsection are in effect and what settings or controls have been applied. (4) Default tools for children In the case of a user that the platform knows is a child, a covered platform shall enable the tools required under paragraph (1) by default. (5) Application to existing accounts If, before the effective date of this subsection, a covered platform provides a parent of a user that the platform knows is a child with notice and the ability to enable the parental tools described under this subsection in a manner that would otherwise comply with this subsection, and the parent opted out of enabling such tools, the covered platform is not required to enable such tools with respect to such user by default on and after the date on which this subsection takes effect. (c) Reporting mechanism (1) Reporting tools A covered platform shall provide each of the following: (A) A readily accessible and easy-to-use means for a user and visitor to a covered platform to submit a report to the covered platform of any harm to a minor related to use of the covered platform. (B) An electronic point of contact specific to matters involving harms to a minor. (C) Confirmation of the receipt of such report and, within the applicable time period described in paragraph (2), a substantive response to the individual that submitted the report. (2) Timing A covered platform shall establish an internal process to receive and substantively respond to a report submitted under paragraph (1) in a reasonable and timely manner, but in no case later than— (A) 10 days after the date on which the report is received; and (B) notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if the report involves an imminent threat to the safety of a minor, as promptly as needed to address the reported threat to safety. (d) Advertising of illegal products A covered platform shall not facilitate the advertising of narcotic drugs, cannabis products, tobacco products, gambling, or alcohol to an individual that the covered platform knows is a minor. (e) Rules of application (1) Accessibility With respect to safeguards and parental tools described under subsections (a) and (b), a covered platform shall provide each of the following: (A) Information and control options in a clear and conspicuous manner that takes into consideration the differing ages, capacities, and developmental needs of the minors most likely to access the covered platform and does not encourage minors or parents to weaken or disable safeguards or parental tools. (B) Readily accessible and easy-to-use controls to enable or disable safeguards or parental tools, as appropriate. (C) Information and control options in the same language, form, and manner as the covered platform provides the product or service used by minors and their parents. (2) Timing considerations; application of changes to offline devices or accounts If the device of a user or user account does not have access to the internet at the time of a change to parental tools, a covered platform shall apply changes the next time the device or user is connected to the internet. (f) Rules of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to do any of the following: (1) Prevent a covered platform from taking reasonable measures to— (A) block, detect, or prevent the distribution of unlawful, obscene, or other harmful material to minors as described in section 3(a); or (B) block or filter spam, prevent criminal activity, or protect the security of a platform or service. (2) Require the disclosure of the browsing behavior, search history, messages, contact list, or other content or metadata of the communications of a minor. (3) Prevent a covered platform from entering into an agreement with a third party, whose primary or exclusive function is to provide the safeguards or parental tools required under subsections (a) and (b) or to assist with meeting the requirements described under subsections (a) and (b). (4) Prevent a parent or user from authorizing a third party described in subparagraph (3) to implement such safeguards or parental tools required under subsections (a) and (b).