STATEHOUSE — There was a hearing this week to begin work on a bill that would restrict access to social media for kids under the age of 16 in Indiana.

The bill was introduced by State Sen. Mike Bohacek (R). He says data shows that a leading cause of teenage suicide in the country today is psychologically troubling content seen on social media. The bill would require kids under the age of 16 to have parental consent to use social media like Facebook or TikTok.

“The bill is at the early stages,” Bohacek said on WISH-TV. “We had a hearing yesterday. There’s going to be some amendments to clean up, some of the language to make sure it’s very specific, and to make sure we’re working within the right pieces of social media.”

If signed into law, of course after needing to be passed by both chambers, the bill would invoke hefty fines on social media companies and people who violate it.

The ACLU of Indiana is pushing back at the bill saying that it could infringe of First Amendment rights.

“Under our state and federal constitution, we have the first amendment rights both to speak and consume speech,” said Chris Daley with the ACLU of Indiana. “Social media platforms are one way we do that here in modern time, and the Courts continue to say that minors have the right both to use platforms to speak and consume speech.”

There are similar laws in states like Tennessee that are being challenged in court. Some also argue that the bill would be unenforceable.

“Will we capture 100% compliance? Of course not,” Bohacek said. “No law does that, but we’ve got to start.”

At the moment the bill would be enacted in July if it gets full approval.