A new law taking effect today, January 1, in Virginia would significantly change how children under 16 are allowed to use social media, and it raises a big question locally…would you want to see something like this in Maryland?

In simple terms, the law requires social media platforms to determine whether a user is under 16 and, if so, automatically limit that child’s use of each social media app to one hour per day. The limit applies per app, not across all platforms combined. That means one hour on TikTok, one hour on Instagram, one hour on Snapchat, and so on. Parents can increase or decrease that time limit, but only by providing verified parental consent.

Social media companies must use “commercially reasonable” methods to figure out a user’s age. This can include neutral age-screening tools or signals from a device or browser, such as privacy settings that indicate the user should be treated as a minor. If a phone or browser flags the user as under 16, the platform must treat them as a minor.

The law also limits how companies can use age-verification data. Any information collected to determine a user’s age can only be used for that purpose and to provide age-appropriate experiences. It cannot be used for advertising or other unrelated tracking.

Importantly, the law does not give parents access to their child’s social media accounts. Even if a parent approves additional screen time, platforms are not required to let parents read messages, view posts, or control the account beyond setting time limits.

The law also prevents platforms from penalizing minors for hitting the one-hour cap. Social media companies cannot lower the quality of the service, block features, or charge higher prices just because a minor is limited to one hour per day. However, platforms are still allowed to offer different versions of services for minors, including free or restricted options, as long as those differences are tied to privacy or legal compliance.

Supporters say laws like this address growing concerns about screen addiction, mental health, and excessive social media use among kids. Critics raise questions about privacy, enforcement, and whether age verification creates new risks or pushes responsibility away from families.

With Maryland lawmakers often discussing youth mental health and online safety, this kind of law sparks an obvious local debate. Would parents support automatic, enforceable time limits? Would teens find workarounds? And should Maryland require tech companies to enforce boundaries that many families already struggle to set at home?

It ultimately comes down to a bigger question: would you want to see a law like this in Maryland?

Coffee Republic is expanding to Bethesda, with a new location planned for the ground floor of the Bethesda Place apartment building, connected to the upcoming Lidl grocery store. The news was first reported by Robert Dyer.

The coffee shop opened its first Montgomery County location in King Farm in the fall of 2016 and has steadily grown its footprint since then. Today, Coffee Republic operates 11 locations across the DMV and North Carolina, with Bethesda set to become its latest addition. An opening timeline for the Bethesda location has not yet been announced.

According to Coffee Republic, the brand was built around a passion for exceptional coffee and creating vibrant community gathering spaces. The café offers a wide range of classic and specialty coffee drinks, along with signature quirky beverages, using organic coffee sourced through its roasting partner, Disco Roasters.

Each Coffee Republic location is designed to reflect the surrounding community, blending eclectic, urban energy with the warmth of a neighborhood café. The company says its mission is to create a welcoming space where coffee meets community, with an atmosphere meant to be just as enjoyable as the drinks themselves.