Grundy Reporter

Illinois Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) has announced her "Safe Screens, Healthy Minds" legislative package, aimed at addressing the negative impact of social media on minors. At a press conference held at the State Capitol, Sen. Rezin highlighted the need for action to protect the youth from the risks associated with unchecked social media platforms.

"We know from research and whistleblowers that social media poses a significant risk to our youth if left unchecked," said Sen. Rezin. "While I hope for federal government intervention, Illinois officials cannot wait for a Congressional solution when we have the power to act now."

The core of the "Safe Screens, Healthy Minds" legislative package consists of three bills. The first bill, Senate Bill 3334, also known as the Illinois Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AADC), is based on California's law but with improved language. The AADC aims to enhance data privacy by requiring high default privacy settings and providing clear language and tools for children and parents to exercise their privacy rights and report concerns.

Sen. Rezin emphasized that the AADC will not only protect data privacy but also safeguard children's mental health. "By protecting minors' personal data, we can mitigate the negative effects they experience while using social media platforms," she explained.

The second bill in the package, Senate Bill 3355, expands the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act over social media. This bill will require social media companies to establish a free customer support service to address issues and complaints. Failure to address valid complaints within three days could result in fines for the companies.

Sen. Rezin highlighted the importance of this expansion, stating, "Far too often, people report inappropriate content on these platforms, only to see their complaints go unanswered for weeks or even months. This legislation will provide Illinoisans with access to much-needed assistance in removing such content."

The final core piece of the "Safe Screens, Healthy Minds" initiative is an amendment that will mandate social media platforms to implement an identity verification process to protect minors. Sen. Rezin acknowledged the concerns raised by parents and educators during roundtable discussions and emphasized the need for a process to safeguard unsuspecting minors from individuals seeking to trick and harm them.

While refining her legislative package, Sen. Rezin is actively seeking feedback from Illinois parents, educators, and mental health professionals. To gather input and stories, an online survey has been made available to Illinoisans.

The "Safe Screens, Healthy Minds" legislative package proposed by Sen. Rezin aims to address the risks associated with social media platforms and protect the mental health of minors. With bills targeting data privacy, consumer protection, and identity verification, Sen. Rezin is taking proactive steps to ensure the well-being of Illinois' youth in the digital age.