Technology

HB 301, titled "Social Media Protections for Minors Under 16," aims to regulate social media platforms for minors in North Carolina. The bill prohibits social media platforms from allowing children under 14 years of age to create accounts and requires them to terminate existing accounts for this age group, deleting their personal data. For minors aged 14 or 15, platforms must obtain parental or guardian consent before they can create or maintain an account. The North Carolina Department of Justice is responsible for enforcing these provisions, which allows for civil penalties and damages for violations, including potential lawsuits by affected minors.

HB 959 requires North Carolina public schools to adopt internet safety policies by January 2026, limiting student access to age-appropriate content and blocking social media except for teacher-directed educational use. It mandates annual social media literacy instruction in all grades, covering mental health impacts, misinformation, online safety, and identifying cyberbullying. The bill also establishes rules for wireless device use during class, prohibiting personal device use except for educational purposes, medical needs, or special education plans. These provisions directly affect all K-12 public schools and students across North Carolina, with policies to be implemented starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

SB 117 updates North Carolina's Uniform Commercial Code to govern transactions involving "controllable electronic records" (e.g., digital assets like blockchain-based tokens or programmable contracts). It defines key terms like "controllable electronic record" and establishes rules for transferring control - requiring a buyer to have exclusive power to benefit from and restrict access to the record. The bill protects "qualifying purchasers" (those who buy in good faith for value) from claims by others over the same digital asset, while clarifying that standard filings under Article 9 of the Commercial Code do not create notice of ownership claims. This directly affects businesses and individuals engaging in digital asset transactions, excluding existing categories like bank accounts or electronic money from these new rules.

SB 408 prohibits state and local government employees, contractors, and individuals participating in state-funded programs from using or accessing TikTok and WeChat. The bill bans these "covered applications" on all government-issued devices, information technology, and any equipment owned or leased by state or local subdivisions. It mandates the removal of any existing installations within 30 days of enactment and requires state agencies to restrict access to these applications' websites. An exception is made for law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies for investigative purposes, with guidelines to be developed for such use.