AMERICANS face being hit with restrictions on the amount of time they spend browsing social media thanks to a new law.

The new measure limits certain people to just one hour a day on each social media app in Virginia, including TikTok, X, Instagram, Snapchat or more.

The law came in on January 1 after Virginia politician Wendell Walker compared social media to a drug addiction.

The legislation was approved by Governor Glenn Youngkin with support from both parties in the House and Senate.

He said social media was causing a mental health ‘crisis’.

The law requires social media platforms to check if a user is under 16 and, if so, limit them to one hour per day per platform.

Social media platforms are being told to use ‘neutral and commercially reasonable methods’ to verify users’ ages.

However, parents will be able to adjust the daily time limit.

Parents will not be able to access any other part of their child’s private social media settings or allow them to view messages or private posts.

The responsibility to make sure children are not spending too long on social media will lie with the companies, rather than with parents.

NetChoice, a trade association for tech businesses, is attempting to block the new law.

The group, which includes Google, Meta, and Snap, said that the law was unconstitutional and violated minors’ First Amendment right, reports MediaPost.

Children banned from using phone for more than 1 hour per day under new law – but it all depends on the app

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A similar rule aimed at warning users about social media addiction was signed into law in New York by Governor Kathy Hochul in December.

The law would require social platforms to display a warning label when users experience any feature deemed “predatory,” such as auto-play or infinite scroll.

Companies that flout the rules could be hit with a $5,000 fine.

The rule would affect all users of all ages, but is in particular aimed at younger users.

Likewise, Utah has proposed a law that would restrict the times minors can scroll on social media.

Children would be barred from scrolling between 10.30pm and 6.30am without parental consent.

The law was blocked by a federal court judge in September 2024.