SPRINGFIELD — A measure spearheaded by State Senator Willie Preston to protect children from harmful and addictive online practices has been signed into law, marking a major step toward improving digital safety for young people across Illinois.
“Parents shouldn’t have to fight an uphill battle to keep their children safe online,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “For too long, tech companies have put profits ahead of young people’s well-being. Families deserve clear information about how these platforms operate, stronger safeguards for kids and accountability when companies fail to protect them.”
House Bill 5511 creates the Children’s Online Social Media Safety Act, establishing an age assurance system designed to help online platforms identify whether a user is a minor while limiting the amount of personal information shared in the process. The law requires covered manufacturers and app stores to provide age-range signals to online platforms so companies can apply appropriate protections for children and teens.
Under the law, platforms with actual knowledge that a user is a minor must automatically apply stronger default privacy protections, including limiting location sharing and restricting gifted currency features. The law also prohibits the sending of notifications to minors during overnight hours without verified parental consent.
Preston said the law is intended to address growing concerns about the effects of excessive and unsafe online engagement on young people, while also ensuring companies only share the minimum information necessary for age verification purposes.
“Parents deserve confidence that the apps and platforms their children use are built with safety, not exploitation in mind,” Preston said. “We have to set clear expectations for tech companies and ensure they are prioritizing the health, privacy and well-being of young people over their bottom line.”
Violations of the Children’s Online Social Media Safety Act are enforceable by the Illinois Attorney General and state’s attorneys throughout Illinois under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
House Bill 5511 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2028.
