ME LD844

Social media companies must verify the age of all users attempting to create accounts and are prohibited from allowing children under 14 years old to become or remain account holders

Minors aged 14 or 15 may hold social media accounts only with verified parental consent, requiring parents to provide government-issued ID and authorization documentation

Social media companies must retain parental consent records for at least 2 years and provide an accessible method for parents to revoke consent and terminate their child's account

Civil penalties for violations are up to $10,000 per violation for first-time offenders and up to $25,000 per violation for companies with prior violations, enforced by the Attorney General

The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and exempts educational platforms specifically designed for minors that are not primarily social media platforms