Social Media Regulation Act (H-3431)

Co-sponsored by Reps. Newton, Wooten, Pope, Martin, Pedalino and McCravy, the Social Media Regulation Act includes age-appropriate design code legislation that would improve young people’s digital experiences by requiring tech companies to implement privacy-by-default and safety-by-design protections for kids online. This means not collecting or selling their data, setting high privacy standards by default, and avoiding manipulative design. The bill was passed by the South Carolina Legislature on January 21, 2026, and signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster on February 5, 2026. The law takes immediate effect with the Governor’s approval.