I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6257 
To protect minors from harms associated with ephemeral messaging features 
and unsolicited direct contact on social media platforms by prohibiting 
certain ephemeral messaging features for minors and mandating the 
provision of parental direct messaging controls, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 21, 2025 
Mr. DUNN of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To protect minors from harms associated with ephemeral 
messaging features and unsolicited direct contact on so-
cial media platforms by prohibiting certain ephemeral 
messaging features for minors and mandating the provi-
sion of parental direct messaging controls, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Safe Messaging for 
Kids Act of 2025’’ or the ‘‘SMK Act of 2025’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APP.—The term ‘‘app’’ means a software 
application or an electronic service that may be run 
or directed by a user on a computer, gaming device, 
mobile device, or any other general purpose com-
puting device. 
(2) APP STORE.—The term ‘‘app store’’ means 
a publicly available website, software application, or 
other electronic service that distributes and facili-
tates the download onto a mobile device of an app 
from a third-party developer by a user of a com-
puter, gaming device, mobile device, or any other 
general purpose computing device. 
(3) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Trade Commission. 
(4) COVERED USER.—The term ‘‘covered user’’ 
means a user of a social media platform if the pro-
vider of such social media platform— 
(A) has actual knowledge that the user is 
a minor; or 
(B) would know that the user is a minor 
if not for willful disregard by the provider. 
(5) DIRECT MESSAGING FEATURE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘direct mes-
saging feature’’ means a function of a social 
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media platform that enables a user to send a 
message, image, video, audio, or other commu-
nication directly to another user or a group of 
users of the social media platform. 
(B) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘direct mes-
saging feature’’ does not include a function of 
a social media platform that enables a user to 
post content on the social media platform to— 
(i) a public or semi-public profile; or 
(ii) a feed accessible to a broader 
group of users. 
(6) EPHEMERAL MESSAGING FEATURE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘ephemeral 
messaging feature’’ means a function of a social 
media platform that permanently deletes or ren-
ders inaccessible a message, image, video, 
audio, or other communication sent between 
users of the social media platform (such that 
neither the sender nor any recipient of such 
communication may readily retrieve or review 
the communication in the original form through 
the social media platform)— 
(i) after a predetermined period; 
(ii) once viewed by such a recipient; or 
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(iii) upon exiting the specific chat or 
messaging interface. 
(B) EXCEPTIONS.—The term ‘‘ephemeral 
messaging feature’’ does not include— 
(i) a function of a social media plat-
form that allows a user of the social media 
platform to manually delete a message, 
image, video, audio, or other communica-
tion sent by such user after the trans-
mission of the communication (if such de-
letion does not automatically occur for 
each recipient of the communication or by 
the default design of such function); or 
(ii) standard data volatility in transit 
or temporary caching not designed to make 
such a communication permanently inac-
cessible after viewing or a short, predeter-
mined time. 
(7) MINOR.—The term ‘‘minor’’ means an indi-
vidual under the age of 17 years. 
(8) PARENT.—The term ‘‘parent’’ means an in-
dividual who is an adult with the legal right to make 
a decision on behalf of a minor, including any of the 
following: 
(A) A natural parent. 
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(B) An adoptive parent. 
(C) A legal guardian. 
(D) Another individual with legal custody 
of the minor. 
(9) 
PARENTAL
DIRECT
MESSAGING
CON-
TROLS.—The term ‘‘parental direct messaging con-
trols’’ means a set of tools or settings that a pro-
vider of a social media platform provides to a parent 
of a covered user of the social media platform that 
allows the parent to manage the use of a direct mes-
saging feature by such covered user. 
(10) SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM.—The term ‘‘so-
cial media platform’’ means a website or an app that 
enables a user of the website or app to do any of 
the following: 
(A) Create and maintain a public or semi- 
public profile that serves as a central represen-
tation of the identity and activity of such user. 
(B) Connect with other users to form a 
network or community based on personal rela-
tionships, shared interests, or direct reciprocal 
interactions. 
(C) Share and consume user-generated 
content primarily within the context of such 
network or community, where the direct social 
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interaction between the users in the network or 
community is a core and defining aspect of the 
dissemination of and engagement with such 
user-generated content. 
(D) Engage in persistent and private or 
semi-public interpersonal communication and 
interaction that is integral to the experience of 
such user on such website or app (rather than 
incidental to the consumption of content or the 
retrieval of information). 
(11) UNAPPROVED CONTACT.—The term ‘‘un-
approved contact’’, with respect to a covered user for 
whom parental direct messaging controls have been 
activated, means a user of a social media platform 
with respect to whom the covered user may not use 
a direct messaging feature unless a parent of such 
covered user has provided verifiable parental consent 
under this Act. 
(12) VERIFIABLE
PARENTAL
CONSENT.—The 
term ‘‘verifiable parental consent’’— 
(A) has the meaning given that term in 
section 1302 of the Children’s Online Privacy 
Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6501); and 
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(B) includes ongoing mechanisms for par-
ents to activate and manage parental direct 
messaging controls provided under this Act. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON EPHEMERAL MESSAGING FEA-
TURES FOR MINORS. 
A provider of a social media platform may not offer, 
provide, or enable any ephemeral messaging feature of 
such social media platform to any covered user of the so-
cial media platform. 
SEC. 4. PARENTAL CONTROLS FOR DIRECT MESSAGING OF 
MINORS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—A provider of a social media 
platform that offers, provides, or enables any direct mes-
saging feature of such social media platform to any cov-
ered user of the social media platform shall provide easily 
accessible and usable parental direct messaging controls 
to a parent of the covered user that the parent may acti-
vate and manage by providing verifiable parental consent. 
(b) ACCESSIBILITY; USABILITY; AWARENESS.—The 
parental direct messaging controls described in subsection 
(a) shall meet the following requirements: 
(1) Be clearly and conspicuously accessible to a 
parent of a covered user through— 
(A) the settings of a profile of the covered 
user; and 
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(B) any parental portal or interface offered 
by the social media platform. 
(2) Be designed to be user-friendly with clear 
explanations of the manner in which the parental di-
rect messaging controls operate. 
(3) Be prominently displayed by the social 
media platform to— 
(A) a user who indicates that the user is 
a parent; and 
(B) a user who creates a profile for an in-
dividual who is likely to be a covered user. 
(c) FUNCTIONALITY OF CONTROLS.—As a default 
setting on a social media platform, the parental direct 
messaging controls described in subsection (a) shall allow 
a parent of a covered user of the social media platform 
to do any of the following (unless the parent adjusts the 
default setting with respect to any of the following by pro-
viding verifiable parental consent): 
(1) Receive a timely notification that— 
(A) alerts the parent about a request from 
an unapproved contact who seeks to engage in 
direct messaging with the covered user; and 
(B) allows the parent to approve or deny 
the request before the unapproved contact and 
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the covered user engage in any direct mes-
saging. 
(2) View and manage a list of any contacts ap-
proved for engaging in direct messaging with the 
covered user. 
(3) Be informed if the covered user changes the 
age listed on a profile of the covered user (if any 
such change affects the applicability of such parental 
direct messaging controls). 
(4) Disable any direct messaging feature of a 
profile of the covered user. 
(d) DEFAULT
SETTINGS
FOR
COVERED
USERS 
UNDER 13.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—A provider of a social 
media platform, as a default setting, shall disable 
any direct messaging feature of a profile of a cov-
ered user under the age of 13. 
(2) VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT.—A par-
ent may provide to a provider of a social media plat-
form verifiable parental consent to enable any direct 
messaging feature of a profile of a covered user de-
scribed in paragraph (1). 
(e) NO DEGRADATION
OF OTHER FEATURES
OR 
SERVICES.—A provider of a social media platform may 
not degrade the functionality or availability of any other 
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feature or service of the social media platform for a cov-
ered user of the social media platform based on the activa-
tion or management of parental direct messaging controls 
by a parent of the covered user under this section (except 
as necessary to implement the parental direct messaging 
controls). 
(f) NO CIRCUMVENTION.—A provider of a social 
media platform shall take reasonable measures to prevent 
a covered user of the social media platform from easily 
circumventing parental direct messaging controls acti-
vated and managed by a parent of the covered user under 
this section. 
SEC. 5. APP STORE WARNING FOR APPS WITH DIRECT MES-
SAGING FEATURES. 
A provider of an app store shall provide a clear and 
conspicuous warning to a parent of a covered user when 
the covered user attempts to download or purchase an app 
with respect to a social media platform that includes a 
direct messaging feature if the parent has required the 
provision of verifiable parental consent from the parent 
through a setting provided by such app store for any such 
download or purchase by the covered user. 
SEC. 6. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) ENFORCEMENT BY COMMISSION.— 
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(1) UNFAIR
OR
DECEPTIVE
ACTS
OR
PRAC-
TICES.—A violation of this Act shall be treated as 
a violation of a regulation under 18(a)(1)(B) of the 
Federal 
Trade 
Commission 
Act 
(15 
U.S.C. 
57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or 
practices. 
(2) POWERS
OF
COMMISSION.—The Commis-
sion shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by 
the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, 
powers, and duties as though all applicable terms 
and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act 
(15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and 
made a part of this Act, and any person who violates 
this Act shall be subject to the penalties and entitled 
to the privileges and immunities provided in the 
Federal Trade Commission Act. 
(b) ACTIONS BY STATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In any case in which the at-
torney general of a State, or an official or agency of 
a State, has reason to believe that an interest of the 
residents of such State has been or is threatened or 
adversely affected by an act or practice in violation 
of this Act, the State, as parens patriae, may bring 
a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State 
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in an appropriate State court or an appropriate dis-
trict court of the United States to— 
(A) enjoin such act or practice; 
(B) enforce compliance with this Act; 
(C) obtain damages, restitution, or other 
compensation on behalf of residents of the 
State; or 
(D) obtain such other legal and equitable 
relief as the court may consider to be appro-
priate. 
(2) NOTICE.—Before filing an action under this 
subsection, the attorney general, official, or agency 
of the State involved shall provide to the Commis-
sion a written notice of such action and a copy of 
the complaint for such action. If the attorney gen-
eral, official, or agency determines that it is not fea-
sible to provide the notice described in this para-
graph before the filing of the action, the attorney 
general, official, or agency shall provide written no-
tice of the action and a copy of the complaint to the 
Commission immediately upon the filing of the ac-
tion. 
(3) AUTHORITY OF COMMISSION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—On receiving notice 
under paragraph (2) of an action under this 
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subsection, the Commission shall have the 
right— 
(i) to intervene in the action; 
(ii) upon so intervening, to be heard 
on all matters arising therein; and 
(iii) to file petitions for appeal. 
(B) LIMITATION ON STATE ACTION WHILE 
FEDERAL ACTION IS PENDING.—If the Commis-
sion or the Attorney General of the United 
States has instituted a civil action for violation 
of this Act (referred to in this subparagraph as 
the ‘‘Federal action’’), no State attorney gen-
eral, official, or agency may bring an action 
under this subsection during the pendency of 
the Federal action against any defendant 
named in the complaint in the Federal action 
for any violation of this Act alleged in such 
complaint. 
(4) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—For purposes of 
bringing a civil action under this subsection, nothing 
in this Act shall be construed to prevent an attorney 
general, official, or agency of a State from exercising 
the powers conferred on the attorney general, offi-
cial, or agency by the laws of such State to conduct 
investigations, administer oaths and affirmations, or 
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compel the attendance of witnesses or the production 
of documentary and other evidence. 
SEC. 7. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION ON ENCRYPTION. 
(a) NO REQUIREMENT TO WEAKEN
OR IMPAIR 
ENCRYPTION.—Nothing in this Act may be construed to 
require a provider of a social media platform or of any 
other interactive computer service or electronic commu-
nication service to— 
(1) decrypt or ensure an ability to decrypt an 
encrypted communication of a user; 
(2) preclude the use of any form of encryption, 
including end-to-end encryption, for any communica-
tion of a user; or 
(3) design, build, or implement any feature, 
function, software, hardware, or other capability for 
the purpose of weakening, undermining, circum-
venting, or overcoming any security control, includ-
ing encryption, that is used to protect the privacy or 
security of any communication or data of a user. 
(b) PRESERVATION OF PRIVACY AND SECURITY.— 
This Act shall be implemented in a manner that— 
(1) respects and protects the privacy of a user 
and the security of any communication of a user; 
and 
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(2) does not require or encourage the systemic 
surveillance or monitoring of any encrypted commu-
nication of a user or the creation of any capability 
that would allow for such systemic surveillance or 
monitoring. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION
OF ACT.—No requirement 
under this Act to restrict any feature for a covered user 
or to provide parental direct messaging controls for a di-
rect messaging feature of a social media platform may be 
construed to override any protection for an encrypted com-
munication described in this section and a provider of a 
social media platform shall adhere to any such require-
ment, to the maximum extent technically feasible, through 
means that do not compromise the integrity of strong 
encryption offered to any user of the social media plat-
form. 
SEC. 8. PREEMPTION. 
No State, or political subdivision of a State, may 
maintain, enforce, prescribe, or continue in effect any law, 
rule, regulation, requirement, standard, or other provision 
having the force and effect of law that relates to the provi-
sions of this Act. 
SEC. 9. SEVERABILITY. 
If any provision of this Act or the application of this 
Act to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitu-
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tional, the remaining provisions of this Act and the appli-
cation of this Act to other persons or circumstances shall 
not be affected. 
SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), this Act shall take effect on the date that is 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) 
COMPLIANCE
DEADLINES.—Notwithstanding 
subsection (a)— 
(1) a provider of a social media platform shall 
have 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act to comply with the provisions of section 4; and 
(2) a provider of a social media platform shall 
have 18 months after the date of the enactment of 
this Act to comply with the provisions of section 5. 
Æ 
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