LINCOLN, Neb. - Representatives from major tech companies were at the Nebraska State Capitol on Thursday to testify against proposed legislation aimed at regulating social media access for minors. LB383, introduced by State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman, would require social media platforms to verify a user's age before allowing them to create a profile. If the user is under 18, they would need parental consent.

“This is evidence of Big Tech being a predator to our children. Our kids aren’t for sale,” Storer said.

During her testimony, Storer pointed to the decline in teen mental health since the rise of social media. She cited the U.S. Surgeon General’s warning about the dangers of these platforms and the push for warning labels.

“A study of indicators of poor mental health among U.S. girls between 2001 and 2018 indicated a marked increase in reports of unhappiness, depression and suicidal ideation,” said Storer.

The bill has received strong public support, with nearly 70 submissions in favor. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers also backed the proposal, highlighting the state’s ongoing lawsuits against Meta and TikTok.

“TikTok is designed like a casino. They’re designed intentionally to hook kids,” said Hilgers. “Because some of the most lucrative customers in this area are children.”

While supporters argue the bill is content-neutral and does not violate First Amendment rights, opponents claim otherwise.

Tech industry representatives testified that the bill could create privacy risks by requiring platforms to collect users’ age verification data.

“Increased collection of data puts users at risk, including fraud,” said Ruthie Barko, Executive Director for TechNet, a national network of technology CEOs and executives whose members include Amazon, Apple and Meta.

Barko also argued that implementing the law in a single state would be burdensome and noted that similar laws elsewhere have faced legal challenges.

Another tech representative at the meeting was Hope Ledford, a policy analyst at Chamber of Progress. The tech industry coalition is funded by businesses such as Amazon, Google and Apple.

“We’re especially worried how it could cut off social media access to vulnerable youth,” said Ledford.

In addition to mentioning similar concerns as Barko, Ledford said that parents aren’t always the ones who should be limiting their children’s social media use. She cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Data that found more than half of U.S. high school students suffered emotional abuse from a parent or someone else in their home.

“It could be weaponized by parents in custody lawsuits and make kids more vulnerable and at-risk during social isolation,” said Barko.

Despite opposition from the tech industry, Storer urged lawmakers to take action.

“I think to do nothing on this is in fact child abuse,” said Storer.

If passed, the bill would not apply retroactively, meaning current Nebraska social media users would not need to verify their age.