South-Carolina
New SC bill cracks down on social media to protect children
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – South Carolina lawmakers have passed a bill aimed at improving social media safety for minors by placing new restrictions on large tech companies and altering how online platforms deliver content to children.
The measure, now headed to Gov. Henry McMaster for review, would require major social media companies to provide tools to limit addictive features, scale back data collection on minors, and prohibit targeted advertising to users under 18.
“Ultimately, our ultimate goal is to keep kids safe online,” said Rep. Brandon Guffey, R-York.
State Sen. Sean Bennett, R‑Dorchester, said data shows social media is harming children. “The data shows every day [kids] are more and more damaged by social media screen time, those sorts of things,” Bennett said.
But for small businesses that rely on social media, the bill raises concerns.
Charleston Gourmet Burger Co., which uses platforms like Instagram and Facebook to promote its products, is concerned that the changes could make it harder to reach customers.
“With our business right now, the only way — and the best way — to be able to reach customers and spread the word about our platform and what we offer people is social media,” said owners Monique and Chevalo Wilsondebriano.
Bennett said the bill targets only large tech companies — those making more than $25 million annually, collecting data from more than 50,000 users, or earning at least half their revenue from selling user data. Small businesses, he said, “shouldn’t necessarily be caught up in that process.”
“I will tell you this, however,” Bennett added. “I think it sends a message in South Carolina that if you’re going to do business, do business the right way.”
Lawmakers say this bill is only the beginning; a hearing on additional legislation to further tighten protections for minors on social media is scheduled for later this week.
“We’ve seen the anxiety — I mean, this entire generation is named the anxious generation,” said Rep. Brandon Guffey, R‑York. “And a lot of it is linking back to social media.”
McMaster’s office said he will review the bill once it arrives on his desk.
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Video of SCHSL 5A Division 1 Upper State track and field championships
Here’s video of some of the action from the SCHSL Class 5A Division 1 Upper State boys and girls track and field championships held May 8 at Dorman.
Riley Vaughn of Spartanburg girls Track and Field was named the 2025-26 South Carolina girls Gatorade Player of the Year.
Vaughn won the shot put and discus events at the Class 5A-D1 state championships. She nailed a 13.1 meters on the shot and 41.77 meters on the discus. Her 14.41 in the shot at the region meet was the state’s best for 2026.
The 5-foot-10 junior helped lead Spartaburg to a fifth-place team finish. Vaughn had also competed on the national stage after taking third place in the shot put event at the Under Armour Nationals.
“Unbeaten in the discus throw on home state soil this year, Vaughn achieved success in both throws, but really sparkled in the shot put circle,” PrepCalTrack editor, Rich Gonzalez, said. “Her season-best there was the state’s top mark in the event in seven years and moved her to No. 4 on South Carolina’s all-time list.”
Vaughn is now part of an elite group of athletes who have won the prestigious award, including four-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin, five-time Olympic medalist Sanya Richards, and 11-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix.
Vaughn was also named to the Greenville News’ All-Upstate First Team in girls’ Track and Field for the second consecutive season.
Kamryn Jackson covers high school and college sports for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Greenville News, Anderson Independent Mail, and the USA TODAY Network. Please email her at KEJackson@gannett.com and follow her on X @KamxJack (formerly Twitter).
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – With the primary season concluded, South Carolina’s gubernatorial race is coming into focus, marking the first time in nearly a decade that Gov. Henry McMaster will not appear on the ballot.
Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson and Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson have secured their parties’ nominations and will face off in November as they begin shifting their campaigns toward the general election.
Wilson, a Lexington native and combat veteran, has served as the state’s attorney general since 2011. He is campaigning on a platform focused on tax reform, government transparency, and affordability, including a proposal to eliminate the state income tax.
“I think it signals to us that our message of talking about the people of South Carolina and our message of hope … resonated with the voters,” Wilson said, referencing his primary victory.
Johnson, who has represented Richland County in the South Carolina House since 2021 and lives in Hopkins, is centering his campaign on what he calls a need for change and new leadership. He is seeking to become the state’s first Democratic governor since the late 1990s.
“People are just angry … because their lives just aren’t getting any better,” Johnson said. “If we elect the same type of leadership, we will get the same type of result.”
Johnson pointed to Republican primary results, including the defeat of the sitting lieutenant governor in the GOP runoff, as evidence that voters are open to change.
Wilson has selected state Sen. Mike Reichenbach of Florence County as his running mate, saying Reichenbach would spearhead an effort to audit state agencies if elected.
Johnson has not yet announced a lieutenant governor candidate but said he expects to do so within the next month.
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Copyright 2026 WIS. All rights reserved.
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