A broader national debate over how to protect children online has reached Alabama, where lawmakers are advancing House Bill 161, one of several bills nationwide aimed at addressing concerns about social media’s impact on minors.
The legislation reflects bipartisan agreement that social media platforms can pose risks to children and teenagers. However, disagreement remains over how responsibility for mitigating those risks should be structured and enforced.
HB161 would require age verification at the point of downloading certain applications, including social media platforms. Supporters argue the approach would allow app developers to place younger users into age-appropriate digital experiences. Critics question whether the framework would be effective or enforceable.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has publicly supported policy frameworks that emphasize age verification through app stores. During testimony before the Alabama Senate, Theresa Garcia Robertson, a public policy manager at Meta, said the bill “ensures that app developers like Meta can place younger users into age-appropriate experiences on our platforms.”
Other technology companies, including X, formerly known as Twitter, and Snapchat, as well as the dating app Grindr, have also expressed support for the measure.
During legislative debate, some lawmakers raised concerns about practical enforcement. State Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, questioned whether the bill would effectively prevent minors from accessing certain apps.
“I don’t like the sound good, feel-good bills if it cannot truly be enforced as well to make sure the children are protected,” Figures said during a hearing.
Opponents of similar legislation in other states have argued that minors may still access content through web browsers, smart televisions or other devices, potentially limiting the effectiveness of app-store-based restrictions. Others have suggested the model could shift regulatory obligations toward app marketplaces rather than social media companies themselves.
HB161 is sponsored by State Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, who has supported comparable proposals in prior sessions. Versions of similar legislation have been introduced in Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Utah and Florida.
The Texas law, which contains provisions similar to HB161, is currently the subject of federal litigation after a judge raised concerns that portions of the statute may conflict with First Amendment protections. Utah’s law is also facing constitutional challenges in federal court.
As child online safety proposals have advanced in multiple states, Meta has expanded its public policy and lobbying activity. According to federal disclosure reports, the company employs 86 registered federal lobbyists and reported spending $7.99 million on federal lobbying. Alabama ethics disclosures indicate that Meta has retained six registered lobbyists in the state.
The company’s policy engagement comes as it has also expanded its economic presence in Alabama. In 2025, Meta announced plans to invest in a new facility in Montgomery.
HB161 passed unanimously in both the Alabama House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill now returns to the House for consideration of Senate changes, either through concurrence or a conference committee.
If enacted, Alabama would join a growing number of states seeking to regulate minors’ access to digital platforms—an area of law that continues to face constitutional scrutiny in federal courts.
