CT HB05474

Social media platform owners must incorporate an online safety center by January 1, 2026, providing cyberbullying prevention resources, mental health service information including suicide prevention contacts, reporting mechanisms for harmful behavior, and educational content on social media's mental health impact.

Platform owners must establish a cyberbullying policy by January 1, 2026 that describes how they handle cyberbullying reports.

The definition of "heightened risk of harm to minors" is expanded to include harm to the physical or mental health of minors when processing their personal data.

Controllers offering online services to minors are prohibited from using system design features to significantly increase, sustain, or extend minors' use of the platform, with exemptions for educational applications like learning management systems.

Direct messaging features for minors must include default settings that prevent adults from sending unsolicited communications to minors they are not connected with, with exemptions for email and private messaging services.