House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Makes conforming changes, including to act’s long title.

Modifies new GS Chapter 114B, “Social Media Protections for Minors Act” (Act), as follows. Changes the definition of account holder so that it means a person who opens an account or creates a profile or is identified by the social media platform by a unique identifier while using or accessing a social media platform when the social media platform knows or has reason to believe the person is a resident of this State (was, a resident of the State that the social media platform had reason to believe was located in the State). Adds new terms anonymous age verification and standard age verification. Makes technical change to social media platform or platform and adds a community forum where the primary purpose of the forum is for customer self-service support, an interactive video game service equipped with parental controls that must be deactivated for a minor to use, online shopping, and e-commerce to the types of digital platforms that are excluded from the term.

Modifies the remedies provisions of new GS 114B-2, (following social media protections for minors) so they all apply for any violation of GS 114B-2 (previously, applied for violations pertaining to minors under fourteen years of age). Changes the effective date of new GS Chapter 114B from March 1, 2025, to October 1, 2025.

Substantially rewrites new GS 114B-3, now concerning age verification for social media platforms, as follows. Now requires a social media platform to use either anonymous age verification or standard age verification to verify that an account holder is 16 years of age or older and, except as provided in GS 114B-2(b), and prevent creation of an account by a person younger than 16 years of age. Requires the social media platform to offer anonymous age verification and standard age verification, and a person attempting to create an account may select which method will be used to verify the person’s age. (Previously, directed commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on a website or application, if the website or application contains a substantial portion (more than 33.3%) of material harmful to minors, to use either anonymous age verification or standard age verification to verify that the age of a person attempting to access the material is 16 years of age or older and prevent access to the material by a person younger than 16 years of age. Makes organizational and conforming changes, including to the statute's title. Removes defined terms anonymous age verification, commercial entity, distribute, news-gathering organization, publish, age standard verification, and substantial portion. Removes provisions containing exemptions to GS 114B-3.