Connecticut is putting new limits on the app features that can fuel social media addiction among kids, with rules that took effect July 1.
State Attorney General William Tong told technology companies that using addictive design to keep minors online is now illegal in Connecticut.
The changes come through updates to the Connecticut Data Privacy Act and land as several states test how far they can go to protect young users online.
What the Connecticut Law Changes
Under the updated law, companies may no longer use addictive design features meant to stretch out how long minors stay on a service.
The rules also bar targeted advertising to minors and the sale of their data, restrict the collection of precise location data, require consent before profiling minors, and set default messaging settings that block adults from sending unsolicited messages to a child.
More measures are set to follow in 2028, including a ban on serving minors algorithmic feeds without parental consent, a block on notifications between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m., and a warning pop-up about mental health risks when a minor opens a social media app.
How the State Is Enforcing It
Tong said the state is investigating Roblox and TikTok and has sued Meta, alleging it designed features that purposefully addict young people.
He pointed to a New Mexico jury that recently found Meta liable in a similar consumer protection case and imposed 375 million dollars in civil penalties.
Understanding Social Media Addiction
Social media addiction is a behavioral addiction, meaning the compulsion is tied to a habit rather than a substance.
Signs of addiction can include losing track of time online, growing anxious or irritable when kept off a device, sleep loss, and pulling away from friends and activities.
In young people these patterns can overlap with anxiety disorder and depression, which is why parents are paying closer attention.
What This Means for Families
Wherever a family lives, parents can use built-in device and app settings to limit late-night use and watch for the signs above.
If screen use is tied to worsening mood or anxiety, it may be worth talking with a counselor about behavioral therapy, since the same evidence-based approaches used for substance addictions can help.
Local Resources and Next Steps
Families researching help can search addiction treatment centers and counselors in their state and ask whether a provider offers behavioral therapy for screen and internet overuse alongside anxiety or depression care.
Addictions.com lists verified treatment centers so families can compare local options and take the next step.