COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Kids Code Coalition today applauded the House’s advancement of H.3431, which includes the South Carolina Age-Appropriate Design Code, by a vote of 89-14 on third reading. The bill now heads to the Senate.

“We applaud the South Carolina House for today’s overwhelming vote in favor of the South Carolina Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, and we’re especially grateful to Chairman Weston Newton (SC-120) and Subcommittee Chairman Travis Moore (SC-33) for their leadership and dedication to protecting our kids,” said South Carolina Kids Code spokesperson Marisa Shea, who testified at a subcommittee hearing.

“This design bill is the cornerstone of where we need to be when we come to Big Tech,” said bill cosponsor Representative Brandon Guffey (SC-48). Rep. Guffey also testified to the U.S. Senate yesterday about youth online safety.

“It’s about doing something in South Carolina that protects our children,” Chairman Weston Newton (SC-120) said last week.

“The negative impacts of social media are absolutely out of control for our minors. The anxiety, depression, body image issues, shaming, and sextortion. All of these things go back to social media use. This issue is so widespread that it is not an issue that parents can handle on their own. Bill H.3431 will address those issues collectively and give parents tools they don’t already have,” said Representative Travis Moore (SC-33) during yesterday’s House debate.

The Kids Code Coalition is a wide-ranging group of national and state organizations dedicated to improving youth online security and privacy by supporting policies that ensure companies prioritize kids’ and teens’ safety and developmental needs when designing digital platforms and products.

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