Technology (Social Media)

HB 715 establishes the Algorithmic Addiction Fund as a special, nonlapsing state fund to address harms linked to social media algorithms affecting children. The fund is financed by civil penalties from settlements/judgments about social media-related harm to youth, state budget appropriations, and interest earnings. It mandates the Maryland Department of Health to use these resources exclusively for evidence-based prevention, intervention, and treatment services - including school education programs on digital literacy, mental health support for issues like depression and anxiety, and research - prioritizing youth mental health outcomes. The fund cannot replace existing state funding for these services.

SB 121 would create a program allowing specific public servants and their immediate family members (including prosecutors, law enforcement officers, elected officials, and their spouses/children) to request that government entities or individuals remove their personal information - including home addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and license plate details - from public online platforms like government websites or social media. The bill requires government entities to remove such information within 72 hours of a written request and establishes legal remedies, including injunctions and attorney fees, for violations. It also imposes criminal penalties for knowingly publishing protected individuals' personal information. This bill, currently pre-filed and awaiting committee hearings, does not yet apply as law.

HB 21, the Child Influencers Protection Act, requires vloggers who feature minors in their social media content to compensate those children when the content generates at least $100 in earnings (10 cents per view) over a 12-month period. Vloggers must pay 10% of the gross earnings from child-inclusive content into separate trusts for each child, which will be released when the child turns 18. The bill also grants minors the right to request permanent deletion of their featured content from social media platforms starting October 1, 2026. These provisions apply to vloggers who monetize content featuring minors, directly affecting both the vloggers and the children featured in their videos.