Children and teens in Utah would lose access to social media apps such as TikTok if they don’t have parental consent and face other restrictions under a first-in-the-nation law designed to shield young people from addictive platforms.
By SAM METZ and BARBARA ORTUTAY
Tech giants like Facebook and Google have enjoyed unbridled growth for over a decade, but amid concerns over user privacy, hate speech, misinformation and harmful effects on teens’ mental health, lawmakers have made Big Tech attacks a rallying cry on the campaign trail and begun trying to rein them in once in office. Utah’s law was signed on the same day TikTok’s CEO testified before Congress about, among other things, the platform’s effects on teenagers’ mental health.
The wave of legislation and its focus on age verification has garnered pushback from technology companies as well as digital privacy groups known for blasting their data collection practices. Tech industry lobbyists decried the laws as unconstitutional, saying they infringe on people’s right to exercise the First Amendment online.
Cox said studies have shown that time spent on social media leads to “poor mental health outcomes” for children.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Utah codifies ban on 'conversion therapy' for minorsUtah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill to prevent minors from undergoing so-called conversion therapy, a widely discredited practice of trying to 'convert' LGBTQ people to heterosexuality or change their gender identity.
Read more »
Utah Gov. signs parental consent laws for minor social media useUtah’s regulations come amid ongoing debates about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health. Four other states are onsidering similar measures.
Read more »
Utah Gov. signs bill requiring parental OK for social mediaLucy Ivey, an 18-year-old TikTok influencer who attends Utah Valley University said some of her friends in the LGBTQ community may face challenges with the change. “I think about my LGBTQ fri…
Read more »
New law requires parental permission for children to use social media in UtahUtah became the first state to enact laws limiting how children can use social media after Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed a pair of measures Thursday that require parental consent before kids can sign up for sites like TikTok and Instagram.
Read more »
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear vetoes Republican transgender measureThe Democratic governor of Kentucky issued an election-year veto of a Republican bill aimed at regulating the lives of transgender young people.
Read more »