Utah on Thursday became the first US state to enact a law that makes social media access for minors dependent on the express consent of their representatives.
“Indices of youth depression and other mental health problems are rising, and social media companies know their products are toxic. They designed their apps to be addictive,” Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox said in passing the bill.
US President Joe Biden recently advocated stricter laws against the influence of social media on young people, while states such as California, Texas and Arkansas are working on legal frameworks in this regard.
The law, passed in Utah, states that minors require parental or guardian consent to open or maintain their social networks, which can severely impact young people’s access to popular apps like TikTok and Instagram.
It also obliges the companies responsible for social networks, under threat of economic sanctions, to allow their representatives unrestricted access to accounts belonging to minors, as well as to set up a night lock function.
Businesses must also add controls to prevent children or teens from sending or receiving messages from accounts they don’t follow and block adult accounts from their search results.
In earlier statements, Governor Cox acknowledged that the text, which has been criticized by those who see it as a violation of American constitutional principles, may face legal obstacles. “We’re letting social media companies know we’re going to fight in court and empower parents with education and tools.”
“Social media is having a major impact on Utah teenagers,” said one of the bill’s backers, Republican Senator Michael K. McKell, noting that regulation is a bipartisan effort. “The impact on our children is incredibly worrying.”
The document will go into effect on March 1, 2024, as will a second law enacted today by Spencer Cox to ban companies from adding features that could be addictive. “In the meantime, we’re committed to working with social media companies to make sure we have rules that work for everyone,” said second bill coauthor Rep. Jordan Teuscher, according to the Salt Lake Tribune “.
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