Senate committee substitute to the 4th edition makes the following changes.

Changes Part I of the act as follows.

Renames new GS Chapter 114B as Social Media Protections for Children (was, for minors). Instead of regulating the use of social media platforms, now regulates addictive social media platforms, which is mostly defined the same way as social media platforms were defined in the previous edition, but have as their primary purpose or function, providing a forum for users to upload content or view uploaded content of other users; also amends what is excluded from the definition. Further amends the definitions in GS 114B-1 by making conforming changes to account holder, and removing department and minor. Amends the definition of anonymous age verification to prohibit the method used for age verification from retaining personal identifying information used for the age verification and from using personal identifying information used to verify age for any other purpose while adding the requirement for the method to keep personal identifying information used to verify age anonymously, and protect personal identifying information used to verify age from unauthorized or illegal access, destruction, use, modification, or disclosure through reasonable security procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of the personal information. Defines a child as a person under age 16 and refers to child instead of minor throughout the Chapter. Adds the term user data.

Amends GS 114B-2 as follows. Updates the statute to refer to addictive social media platforms and children. Amends the condition under which a contact with the platform can be terminated when a child is 14 or 15 years old, so that it can be terminated after giving the account holder 30 days to dispute the termination (previously, this was only allowed if the parents or guardians had not given consent for the minor to create or maintain the account). Changes who may bring an action against an addictive social media platform from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to the Attorney General and makes conforming changes. Gives the Attorney General, instead of DOJ, rulemaking authority and moves this authority into GS 114B-4. Removes the provision related to the enforcement actions that could have been taken by DOJ. Makes additional organizational, clarifying, and conforming changes.

Amends GS 114B-3, concerning age verification, as follows. Updates the statute to refer to addictive social media platforms and children. Removes the four listed requirements that were to be met by a third party conducting anonymous age verification and makes conforming changes. Allows the Attorney General, instead of the DOJ to bring actions for unfair and deceptive trade practices on behalf of a resident child against an addictive social media platform. Specifies that clear proceeds of civil penalties under the statute are to be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund. Adds that for the purposes of bringing an action under this statute, an addictive social media platform allowing a child to create an account is consider to be both engaged in substantial and not isolated activities within this State and operating, conducting, engaging in, or carrying on a business and doing business in this State, and is subject to jurisdiction of this State’s courts. Specifies that this statute does not preclude any other available remedy at law or in equity.

Amends GS 114B-4 by adding that an internet service provider or its affiliates or subsidiaries, a search engine, or a cloud service provide does not violate GS Chapter 114B solely for providing access or connection to or from an addictive social medial platform not under the provider’s control.

Adds new GS 114B-3.5 prohibiting an addictive social media platform from: (1) using a child's user data to inform content recommendations to a child, (2) using a child's user data to inform what commercial advertisements or promotions are shown to the child, or (3) selling the child's user data to a third party. Makes exceptions for: (1) an addictive social media platform engaging in those actions in reliance on the user's age verification, and (2) an addictive social media platform's use of a child's user data to block access to inappropriate or harmful content to the child. Violations are an unfair and deceptive trade practice and are subject to the specified penalties. Requires that clear proceeds of civil penalties under the statute be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund. Specifies that for the purposes of bringing an action under this statute, an addictive social media platform allowing a child to create an account is considered to be both engaged in substantial and not isolated activities within this State and operating, conducting, engaging in, or carrying on a business and doing business in this State, and is subject to jurisdiction of this State’s courts. Specifies that this statute does not preclude any other available remedy at law or in equity.

Makes conforming changes to the act's long title.