Home - Maryland Kids Code

75% of the top social media platforms use AI to recommend children's profiles to strangers.

Of the top 100 free apps for kids in Google Play 1 in 3 have banner ads, including ads for adult content.

81% of 14 to 22-year-olds say they used social media either "daily" or "almost constantly."

What is the Age Appropriate Design Code (AADC)?

Introduced by Delegates Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery County) and C.T. Wilson (D-Charles County) and Senators Chris West (R-Baltimore County) and Benjamin Kramer (D-Montgomery County), the bipartisan Maryland Age Appropriate Design Code Act (House Bill 901 and Senate Bill 844) is a privacy framework that brings a product safety approach to the internet ensuring that, like cribs and seatbelts, the online products our children and teens use every day are safe by design.

The AADC is already in effect in the UK and has just become law in California. It would require privacy by design and default and that online products and services that children and teens under 18 access are age appropriate and designed in kids’ best interests.

What’s the latest on the Maryland Kids Code?

The Maryland Age Appropriate Design Code was introduced in the 2023 legislative session and passed the House of Delegates on March 20, 2023, by a vote of 110-26. While the legislation did not advance to a vote in the State Senate, co-sponsors are committed to passing the Maryland Kids Code in the next legislative session with support from Senate and House leadership and Attorney General Anthony Brown.