An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous offenses, providing for children's online safety.

HB 1729 would require online platforms in Pennsylvania to verify the age of users and set default privacy settings for children under 18, blocking strangers from messaging, viewing profiles, tagging, or transacting with them without parental approval. For children under 13, parents must approve all new connections and financial transactions, and can view their child's activity on the platform. The bill also prohibits platforms from using deceptive design features ("dark patterns") that undermine these protections and bans discrimination against minors in service quality or pricing. This applies to social media, gaming, and other platforms allowing public profiles and user interaction.