SC H 4591 Stop HARM from Addictive Social Media Act (2026)
South Carolina H 4591 — Stop HARM from Addictive Social Media Act
SC · S.C. H 4591 (126th G.A., 2026) — signed May 19, 2026; eff. Jan. 1, 2027
- Status
- Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Takes effect
- January 1, 2027
- Applies to
- Social media platforms operating in South Carolina with minor users
- Enforced by
- South Carolina Attorney General
South Carolina H 4591, the Stop HARM from Addictive Social Media Act, prohibits social media platforms from deploying addictive algorithmic design features to users under 18. Covered platforms must disable infinite scroll, autoplay, and similar compulsive-engagement features for minor users without parental consent; must not push notifications to minors during school hours (7 AM–3 PM) or late night (10 PM–6 AM) without parental authorization; and may not use algorithmic recommendation systems that exploit minors' psychological vulnerabilities to drive engagement. Platforms must implement age verification. Signed May 19, 2026; effective January 1, 2027.
Who is protected: Minor social media users (under 18) in South Carolina
Legal detail
S.C. H 4591 (126th General Assembly, 2026) — prohibits covered social media platforms from: (1) deploying infinite scroll, autoplay, or artificial engagement-maximizing mechanisms to users under 18 without verifiable parental consent; (2) sending push notifications to minor users during school hours (7 AM–3 PM on school days) or between 10 PM and 6 AM without parental authorization; (3) using algorithmic recommendation or curation systems that exploit minors' psychological vulnerabilities or cognitive biases to maximize engagement time. Covered platforms must implement age-verification or age-assurance systems. South Carolina AG enforcement; graduated civil penalties. Signed May 19, 2026; effective January 1, 2027.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | SC |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | May 19, 2026 |
| Citation | S.C. H 4591 (126th G.A., 2026) — signed May 19, 2026; eff. Jan. 1, 2027 |
| Topics | children's online safety · consumer protection |
| Bill text | H 4591 — South Carolina Legislature (126th Session) |
More AI rules in SC
- SC H 3431 Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (2026) · In effect
Related children's online safety rules elsewhere
- PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot) · Blocked / in litigation
- RI AI Companion Self-Harm Safety (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
- Oregon SB 1546 (AI companion chatbot disclosure + private right of action) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Blanchester OH schools AI policy EDEC (Jun. 29, 2026) · In effect
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