Parental Permission For Kids' Social Media Use Could Become Reality With Proposed Oklahoma Bill

A bill requiring parental permission for Oklahoma kids under the age of 16 to have certain social media accounts unanimously passed a House committee this week.

It requires anyone 18 and older to verify their age.

Some Green Country parents of teenagers shared what they think of the bill.

Most parents who spoke with News On 6 agree that they should monitor what their children are doing online, but many are not sure how to go about stopping kids from lying about their age.

The bill's author Chad Caldwell (R-Enid) said the bill is still a work in progress but said there are third-party companies that can be used to submit identification that would verify someone's age.

As for privacy concerns, Caldwell said the bill would force social media companies to delete people's information once their age is verified.

"I think it's a great idea I don't know why they didn't start this sooner," said mother of three girls Shannon Hillier.

Hillier and her youngest daughter, 13-year-old Adeline, are also in favor of the bill.

"Just to keep you safe so you don't get random people's numbers and that stuff and then they send you stuff," Hillier said.

Caldwell said the bill is still a work in progress, and the wording has to be perfect for the bill to be successful. It would apply to apps, like TikTok and Snapchat.

"We're not trying to be anti-fun or anything like that, but we are trying to be protective and so I do think we are going to try and find a way to try and bring in as many apps as possible that need to be in there."

Caldwell said this bill protects teens' mental health and has specifically impacted teenage girls.

Some worry the bill wouldn't stop kids from lying about their age to create an account.

"Kids are smart they'll find a way if they are really motivated, I think policing it is tricky," said Rebecca P.

Rebecca says she supports her daughters having social media but says it's important to know what kids are doing online.

"We talk a lot about what they do online and who they're talking to online, and I know it's part of their social life so it's important to them and we support that, we just want them to be safe," she said.

News On 6 spoke with the dad of a thirteen-year-old girl who said a parent should have the choice of when their child gets social media, not the government.

The bill will now go to Oklahoma's house floor for further debate.