Colorado Youth Council Urges Stricter AI and Social Media Guardrails

Members of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council recently pitched a series of policy proposals to state legislators at the Colorado Capitol, calling for systemic changes to how social media and artificial intelligence impact minors. The students are advocating for a shift toward corporate accountability and youth agency to mitigate mental health risks and prepare for an AI-driven economy.

Among the primary proposals is a requirement for social media companies to implement evidence-based parental permission verification for users under 13. This would replace the current industry standard of relying on self-reported ages. Anabelle Pettinger, 16, argued that if an account is found to belong to a child under 13 without verified permission, the platform should be required to remove that account.

Additionally, the council proposed that users under 18 be granted the option to opt out of personalized recommendation algorithms. This proposal draws on a 2024 law implemented in New York. Brandon Martinez, 18, noted that algorithms currently decide content based on what keeps young people engaged and scrolling, suggesting instead that platforms should be required to ask youth if they want personalized algorithms.

Beyond social media, the students called for the creation of a state task force to guide the responsible use of AI in schools. This proposed body would include educators, administrators, tech companies, and youth to build a comprehensive framework for AI implementation in the classroom.

The Role of Youth Advocacy

The Colorado Youth Advisory Council consists of teenagers aged 14 to 19 from across the state who serve two-year terms. The council serves as a critical bridge between the state's youth and the legislature. While the group no longer possesses the authority to draft bills directly—a power lost during 2025 budget negotiations—they continue to pitch policy ideas to the Legislature’s Colorado Youth Advisory Council Committee.

Shifting the Regulatory Landscape

These proposals reflect a broader national trend, with states like California and New York already implementing youth-centric tech regulations and AI education frameworks. The push from Colorado's youth signals a move away from simple restrictive measures, such as cell phone bans, toward a model focused on media literacy and systemic protections against algorithmic harm.

State Senator Katie Wallace highlighted the privacy concerns inherent in these digital interactions, noting that the data collected by these companies represents a significant layer of personal information that platforms already possess.

Future Outlook

As the proposals move through the legislative committee, the focus remains on whether Colorado will adopt these specific guardrails to protect minors. The outcome will determine if the state moves toward a more regulated digital environment for students or maintains the current self-reported and algorithmic status quo. Observers will be watching for whether the proposed AI task force gains official state backing to standardize AI literacy across school districts.