In A First In The United States, Utah Limits Teens Social Media Access

In a bold move to prioritize the mental health of young people in Utah, Governor Spencer Cox has signed two comprehensive bills into law. These measures grant parents full access to their children’s online accounts, posts, and private messages. The bills also require explicit consent from parents or guardians before their children can create social media accounts on popular platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

In addition to these safeguards, the bills also impose a curfew that blocks children’s access to social media between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM, unless adjusted by parents. Social media companies will no longer be permitted to collect a child’s data or target them with advertising. The legislation also makes it easier for individuals to take legal action against social media companies that violate the new regulations.

Governor Cox emphasized the responsibility of leaders and parents to protect young people in his tweet announcing the legislation. He stated that “We’re no longer willing to let social media companies continue to harm the mental health of our youth.” Cox’s action was welcomed by child advocacy group Common Sense Media, who called it a “huge victory for kids and families in Utah.”

The signing of these two bills marks a significant step in addressing the negative impact of social media on the mental health of young people. As other states take notice, it is hoped that they will follow Utah’s lead in holding social media companies accountable and ensuring the protection of children across the country.

Republican-led states such as Arkansas, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, and Democratic-led New Jersey are considering similar regulations to the Utah bills, but child advocacy groups such as Common Sense Media have expressed concern that certain provisions may pose risks to children’s safety. Some free speech lawyers have also raised concerns about potential violations of free speech rights, arguing that the legislation could lead to children being cut off from social media entirely, including those who may be in abusive households or part of the LGBT community.

What Facebook Parent company is saying

Meta’s response to the Utah bills and the concerns raised by child advocacy groups about their potential impact on children’s safety is to emphasize its existing tools to keep children safe and age-appropriate on its platforms. These include age verification technology, which ensures that underage users are not accessing features that are restricted to adults, and parental control tools that enable parents and teens to collaborate and set limits on screen time and usage.

Meta has developed more than 30 such tools to support teens and families, according to a spokesperson. For example, Instagram’s “parent’s guide” provides resources for parents on how to use the platform and keep their children safe, while the “restricted mode” on YouTube allows parents to filter out content that may not be age-appropriate. Facebook also has a “family pairing” feature that allows parents to connect with their child’s account and monitor their activity.

While Meta’s efforts to create a safer online environment for children are commendable, critics argue that the company has a long history of mishandling user data and failing to protect minors from harmful content and exploitation. The effectiveness of its current tools and policies to keep children safe remains a subject of debate and scrutiny.

Protecting children from social media’s potential harms has received bipartisan support in the US, with President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address in February calling for laws to ban tech companies from collecting data on children. California lawmakers also passed their own child data law last year, which includes measures such as making the highest privacy features for under-18 users the default setting.

Meanwhile, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has faced a contentious congressional hearing coinciding with the passage of the Utah bills. The legislative momentum to regulate social media companies underscores the growing concern among lawmakers and child advocates about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health and well-being.