In enacting the Maryland Kids Code bill, Maryland has joined California by modeling its regulations on those in the United Kingdom, which have led social media sites and other online services to change how they interact with kids.

Firms like Facebook and TikTok will have until April 1, 2026, to assess how their platforms affect children and make changes to protect kids from content that could harm their mental health. The law also prohibits companies from collecting data about kids’ scrolling habits to fuel algorithms that could push potentially harmful content.

The bill would mandate certain websites and apps default to the highest level of privacy available for accounts for kids under age 16, as well as banning the sale of that data to third parties.

One bill limits platforms’ ability to collect data, while the other bans design features that encourage children to spend more time online.

Heralded by the Maryland Kids Code Coalition, Senate Bill 571/House Bill 603 will require businesses with online products likely to be accessed by children to undergo assessments that identify how their data is used.