Illinois has introduced a bill (HB5511) that would require social media platforms to verify a user's age by checking the creation date of their operating system account, such as an Apple ID or Google Account. The bill aims to enforce age verification for social media use without mandating the collection of government-issued IDs, sparking a major debate on privacy and implementation. The proposal has garnered significant attention on Hacker News, with 203 points and 279 comments discussing its technical feasibility and privacy implications.
Background
There is growing legislative pressure in the U.S. to enforce age verification and parental controls on social media platforms to protect minors. Previous attempts have often relied on intrusive methods like government ID scans, raising significant privacy concerns.
- Source
- Hacker News (RSS)
- Published
- Mar 18, 2026 at 02:06 AM
- Score
- 6.0 / 10