‘Regulation and guardrails:’ Virginia passes law limiting social media consumption for minors

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT)—A new Virginia law limits social media time for children under 16 to an hour in hopes of reconnecting them to the real world.

“We need to start thinking through kind of what are some proper regulations and guardrails that ensure that they’re using it, but it’s not tuning out these other things. That it’s not tuning out their academics, it’s not tuning out time with their friends and family,” said Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, who introduced the SB854.

He’s also a teacher and said he’s seen those negative impacts on some students firsthand.

“They spent 45 minutes in study hall just watching videos on TikTok, and in the meantime, they haven’t talked to anybody, they haven’t done any work,” he said.

The law applies to apps like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, but not to apps solely for email or direct messaging.

The attorney general will enforce the one-hour time limit. Any social media company that does not comply will face a fine that goes up every time it violates it.

“I think this law, among other laws across, different states in the country are going to be the real first opportunity where we kind of forcing them to do what they say they want to do, which is to keep kids safe and put these protections in place,” VanValkenburg said.

However, Marcy Thornhill, a social media expert who works with teens on how to use social media effectively, doesn’t believe this law is realistic.

“They’re not using it just for recreation. They’re using it for ideas for entrepreneurship, to start projects at school, to write papers, you have a lot more young authors now,” she said.

She believes incorporating social media education in schools would be more effective than a limit, which VanValkenburg disagrees with.

The senator admits it’s not a foolproof solution, but it starts a conversation for parents who can also adjust the time limit to whatever they feel appropriate.

However, Thornhill said kids will find a way around it, so they might as well teach them how to use it to their benefit.

“We have to meet their needs where they are; it’s not going away. So, to shut it down, we’re kind of late,” she said.

The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.