Definitions

In this subtitle: (1) Child The term child means an individual who is under the age of 13. (2) Compulsive usage The term compulsive usage means a persistent and repetitive use of a covered platform that substantially limits 1 or more major life activities of an individual (as described in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)). (3) Direct messaging feature (A) In general The term direct messaging feature means a function of a covered platform that enables a user to send a message, image, video, audio, or other communication directly to another user or a specific group of users of the covered platform. (B) Exclusion The term direct messaging feature does not include a function of a covered platform that enables a user to post content on the covered platform to— (i) a public or semi-public profile; or (ii) a feed accessible to a broader group of users. (4) Ephemeral messaging feature (A) In general The term ephemeral messaging feature means a function of a covered platform that permanently deletes or renders inaccessible a message, image, video, audio, or other communication sent between users of the covered platform (such that neither the sender nor any recipient of such communication, nor the covered platform, may readily retrieve or review the communication in the original form through the covered platform)— (i) after a predetermined period; (ii) once viewed by such a recipient; or (iii) upon exiting the specific chat or messaging interface. (B) Exceptions The term ephemeral messaging feature does not include— (i) a function of a covered platform that allows a user of the covered platform to manually delete a message, image, video, audio, or other communication sent by such user after the transmission of the communication; (ii) standard data volatility in transit or temporary caching for necessary functional and performance reasons; (iii) the implementation of a time limited data retention schedule based on industry best practices as part of the explicit security policies of a covered platform or as needed to comply with applicable law or regulation; or (iv) a standard process by which a user may request deletion of an account on a covered platform to include user content. (5) Geolocation information The term geolocation information means information sufficient to identify a street name and name of a city or town. (6) Know; knows The term know or knows means to know or should have known. (7) Messaging controls The term messaging controls means a set of tools or settings that a provider of a covered platform provides to a user of the covered platform that allows the user to manage the use of a direct messaging feature or an ephemeral messaging feature by such user. (8) Teen The term teen means an individual who has attained the age of 13 years and is under the age of 17 years. (9) Unapproved contact The term unapproved contact means a user of a covered platform with respect to whom another user of the covered platform has not initiated a direct message conversation.