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
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.
Technical 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.
Who is protected: Minor social media users (under 18) in South Carolina
Who must comply: Social media platforms operating in South Carolina with minor users
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | SC |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | Enacted (not yet in effect) |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Effective date | 2027-01-01 |
| Enacted | 2026-05-19 |
| Citation | S.C. H 4591 (126th G.A., 2026) — signed May 19, 2026; eff. Jan. 1, 2027 |
| Enforced by | South Carolina Attorney General |
| Topics | children's online safety · consumer protection |
| Last verified | 2026-07-03 |
| Official source | 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) · In effect
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
- Washington HB 2225 (AI chatbot disclosure, minor protections, crisis protocols) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- 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
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