Little Rock, Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has unveiled two new pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening online safety for minors in Arkansas. These efforts follow her 2025 State of the State address and are part of a broader campaign to safeguard children from harmful digital content and aggressive tech industry practices. Senator Tyler Dees (District 35) and Representative Jon Eubanks (District 46) are the lead sponsors of the bills, which build upon Arkansas’ existing online protections.
Giving Parents Legal Power and Expanding the Law
One of the key components of the new legislation allows parents to sue social media companies if their child commits or attempts suicide as a result of being exposed to toxic content on social platforms.
“Moms and dads whose kids have fallen victim to Big Tech deserve the right to take action against these abusive companies – and Arkansas law should protect kids so they aren’t subjected to toxic material in the first place,” said Governor Sanders.
The new proposal also includes major updates to the Social Media Safety Act of 2023. Among the changes:
-
Clarifies the definition of “social media” to cover more platforms.
-
Lowers the age cap for minors covered under the law to 16.
-
Prohibits social media algorithms from targeting minors with harmful or addictive content.
-
Adds penalties for companies that fail to comply with the updated regulations.
Importantly, these changes will only apply to new social media accounts, limiting the reach of the legislation to future platform users.
Senator Dees voiced strong support for the measures, stating, “These commonsense reforms will ensure our children are protected on the internet and will help Arkansas stand up to abusive Big Tech companies.”
Representative Eubanks echoed that sentiment, saying, “This legislation keeps our children safe online and puts their safety where it should be – in the hands of parents.”
Continued Efforts to Keep Phones Out of Classrooms
Governor Sanders’ push for safer tech use among youth goes beyond social media. In February 2025, she signed the Bell to Bell, No Cell Act into law. This act bans the use of personal electronic devices—including cell phones and smartwatches—throughout the school day in Arkansas. The legislation is considered the most comprehensive phone-free school policy in the country.
The Bell to Bell, No Cell Act was inspired by Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation, which explores the negative effects of social media and smartphones on youth mental health. Governor Sanders distributed copies of the book to every legislator in Arkansas and every governor in the U.S. as part of her effort to spread awareness.
Last summer, Arkansas also launched a pilot phone-free schools program, providing funding for secure pouches to store student phones during school hours. Governor Sanders and Haidt toured participating schools across the state in December to promote the initiative and observe its impact firsthand.
The tour culminated in roundtable discussions and public speaking events involving legislators, parents, and educators, and even included a panel appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
With her newest legislative proposals, Governor Sanders continues to position Arkansas at the forefront of online safety reform and digital well-being efforts for young people.
