New Social Media Law May Harm LGBTQ+ Youth, Psychologist Warns
A licensed psychologist specializing in LGBTQ+ youth mental health in the Twin Cities argues that Minnesota's recently enacted HF 4138, intended to protect minors from addictive social media features, will inadvertently harm LGBTQ+ youth. The law's restrictions on algorithmic curation,…
Minneapolis St. Paul, MN, August 26, 2026 —
A Minnesota law aimed at curbing addictive social media features for minors could inadvertently harm LGBTQ+ youth, according to a Twin Cities-based psychologist specializing in their mental health.
The recently enacted bill, Minnesota HF 4138, seeks to protect young people by restricting features such as algorithmic curation and personalized feeds, and requires parental consent for access to certain online content.
However, the psychologist argues that these measures may cut off crucial online lifelines for LGBTQ+ youth. These digital spaces often provide a vital avenue for identity exploration and peer support, particularly for young people who may lack such resources in their immediate offline environment.
According to the psychologist, the law’s provisions could lead to negative mental health outcomes for this vulnerable population by limiting their access to supportive communities and information essential for their development.
The psychologist is advocating for amendments to HF 4138 during the upcoming 2027 legislative session to address these concerns and ensure the law does not negatively impact LGBTQ+ youth.
Story summarized from the original created by By Jenna Brownfield on www.minnpost.com, see more information here.
