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August 10, 2026
The Kentucky House Bill 227 (2026) recently passed the Kentucky House of Representatives unanimously. The legislation targets major social media platforms and seeks to protect children from “addictive” features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, and targeted advertising.
While the law primarily regulates social media companies, it also has direct implications for co-parenting, child custody arrangements, and parenting plans, especially in split household situations where parents may have differing opinions about technology and social media use.
What Platforms Are Covered by HB 227?
HB 227 applies only to large social media platforms, meaning those generating $1 billion or more in global advertising revenue in at least one of the past three years.
Important to note - This means platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are subject to the law, while smaller apps or websites are not.
Addictive Features Targeted by the Law
The bill identifies certain features designed to keep users engaged, including:
- Infinite scrolling and seamless content feeds
- Profile-based algorithmic feeds
- Push notifications that encourage users to return
- Autoplay videos
- Engagement metrics, such as likes, shares, or follower counts
- Gamified rewards, such as badges or tiers based on activity
For users under 16, platforms would be prohibited from including these features, and targeted advertising would also be restricted.
Age Estimation and Parental Consent Requirements
HB 227 requires social media platforms to estimate a user’s age after certain usage thresholds:
- 25 hours of use within six months triggers an initial age estimate
- 50 hours of use triggers a more accurate estimate
If the platform cannot confirm the user is over 15, the account must be treated as belonging to a child.
Verifiable parental consent is required before creating or maintaining accounts for children under 16. Children’s accounts must also have maximum privacy settings enabled by default, and any changes require parental approval.
Parents must also have access to tools that allow them to:
- Monitor screen time
- Set daily or weekly limits
- Restrict access at certain times of day
Account Termination and Enforcement
Platforms must terminate accounts if:
- The user is a child without parental consent
- A child or parent requests account termination
The Kentucky Office of the Attorney General has exclusive enforcement authority. Penalties can reach $7,500 per violation, and the Attorney General may recover investigation costs and attorney fees.
However, HB 227 does not allow private lawsuits against platforms; only the Attorney General can enforce the law.
Social Media, Devices, and Custody Cases
Legislation like HB 227 highlights issues that often arise in child custody and co-parenting arrangements.
Co-Parenting in the Same Household
When parents live together, technology decisions tend to be simpler. Parents can discuss and agree on:
- When children should get phones or tablets
- Which apps or social media platforms are allowed
- Appropriate screen time and parental controls
Boundaries are easier to enforce because both parents share daily routines and can communicate directly.
Both parents have full access to the device at all times, rather than only during timesharing.
Co-Parenting in Separate Households
Split custody arrangements can complicate decisions about social media and device use:
- Parents may have different goals, priorities, or comfort levels regarding online access
- Children often receive devices earlier to facilitate communication with the parent who does not have primary custody, or facilitate frequent communication with both parents and siblings when way during timesharing
- Differences in screen time rules, privacy settings, or app restrictions can lead to disagreements or conflict
Courts frequently address these issues in parenting plans or custody agreements, particularly when parents disagree on limits or monitoring.
This issue is arising more frequently as the use and sophistication of these devices continues to increase.
Why HB 227 Matters for Kentucky Parents
Even though HB 227 regulates social media companies, it mirrors concerns parents face daily:
- how to keep children safe online
- limit screen time
- enforce healthy boundaries for device use
Parents navigating custody arrangements should consider:
- Clear agreements on social media and app usage in each household
- Consistent screen time rules to avoid confusion or conflict
- Parental monitoring tools and access to devices
- The impact of split custody on children’s exposure to online platforms
Legislation like HB 227 may help standardize some protections for children, but communication between parents remains critical to ensure consistent rules and safeguards across households. And further Courts are increasingly consider children’s social media use and access when determining best interest factors in custody decisions.
