LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Children and teens in Indiana could soon need parental permission to use social media.
A proposed social media restriction bill would impact all children under the age of 17. The legislation, which is part of Senate Bill 199, previously targeted children under the age of 16, with lawmakers now upping the threshold by a year.
Under the proposal, social media accounts would only be created for those under the age of 17 if a parent or legal guardian provides consent.
The legislation was prompted, in part, by the disappearance and death of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, the Fishers teen who was found dead in Ohio after being missing for nearly a month. She and the suspect in her death, 39-year-old Tyler Thomas, from Columbus, Ohio, had reportedly communicated via an unspecified online gaming system, according to a report from FOX59 News.
Her death sparked Indiana Gov. Mike Braun to ask lawmakers for stricter access to social media for Hoosier adolescents.Â
FOX59 reported Monday the Senate bill isn't the only legislation that has been filed following Buzbee's death. Lawmakers are also looking to make Amber Alerts less restrictive or create a new Pink Alert system.
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