The Republican-majority state legislature of Utah in the US passed laws on March 24. To limit children’s use of social media, requiring parental approval. Before they can join up for websites like TikTok and Instagram. This was a first for the nation.
Also, unless parents give permission, children under the age of 18 cannot use social media between 10:30 at night and 6:30 in the morning. Also punishable by fines are “addictive” design elements on websites.
They seek to limit how social media affects younger generations. Utah is leading the charge in holding social media giants accountable for the harms they are causing our children and young people, according to the state government’s website.
According to studies, youngsters who spend too much time on social media have “bad mental health consequences,” according to state governor Spencer Cox. “We remain very optimistic that we will be able to enact legislation. That significantly affects the interaction of our children with these really toxic social media apps,” he added. “Not just here in the state of Utah but throughout the country.”
Concern regarding the recent growth in social media use has been voiced by American legislators. Coincidentally, lawmakers in the US Congress questioned TikTok’s CEO on the same day that the Utah regulations were passed. Many people expressed concerns about children using these apps. Even though the hearing’s main focus was on evaluating China’s control over the app.
While California passed a legislation last year forbidding tech companies from profiling children. Or utilising personal information in ways that could hurt children physically or mentally, Arkansas, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, and New Jersey are also considering similar ideas.
Similar topics were also present in US Vice President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech in February. We should work harder on mental health, especially for our kids. Social media firms must finally answer for the profit-driven experiment they are conducting on our children. It’s also time to adopt bipartisan legislation that will outlaw targeted advertising to minors, halt Big Tech from collecting personal information on children and teenagers online. And place stricter restrictions on the information that these companies may gather about us all.
Another Utah law from two years ago urged tech companies to automatically block porn on all sold smartphones and tablets, citing the risks posed to youngsters, according to the AP. Although lawmakers in the fervently religious state changed it to not go into effect unless five other states enacted similar legislation due to worries about enforcement.
Senate Bill 152 mandates that social media firms verify the adult age of a resident who wishes to retain or register an account, receive parental or guardian approval for users under the age of 18, and “give parents full access to their child’s account” starting on March 1, 2024.
Parents would be able to change the “default curfew setting that restricts access overnight (10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.)” and establish a daily time limit for viewing certain websites. Anyone who has not been followed or friended by the child is not allowed to direct message them. It imposes restrictions on businesses’ ability to gather children’s data. Mandates that they block underage accounts from search results, and forbids them from using children’s accounts to target advertising.
Infractions may result in fines for businesses. Another law specifies fines of up to $250,000 for “addictive design features” and a penalty of up to $2,500 per kid exposed to an addictive feature for social media businesses that target users under the age of 18 with “addictive algorithms.” According to the legislation, parents are now able to directly sue social media companies for “financial, physical, or emotional harms in certain circumstances,” with the added caveat that for children under the age of 16. The harm would be legally presumed and the companies would have to disprove it.
There are already age limitations for signing up on applications like Instagram and Twitter, with 13 years of age being the most common requirement. The federal Children’s Internet Privacy Protection Act forbids businesses from gathering information on children under the age of 13 without the approval of their parents. Yet, as there is no requirement for verification. It is also possible for minors to give a false, older date of birth, and this actually happens frequently.
The AP pointed out that tech companies make money by targeting ads to their customers. So in addition to the parental consent laws, social media companies would probably have to build additional features. Former governor Cox predicted that social media corporations will sue to overturn the new regulations.
However similar changes have previously been suggested. Facebook claimed to be developing a “Instagram for Kids” app for users under the age of 13 in 2019. A for-kids version would be made specifically for them to use in a safe manner. Because kids are now obtaining phones in the US at a very young age. And do end up using such applications by entering inaccurate ages. It won’t have adverts and will have features and content that are suitable for people of all ages, according to Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri. Parents can keep an eye on how much time their kids spend using the app. And control who can message, follow, and be followed by them.
These ideas were abandoned in the wake of studies that used data from Instagram’s own systems. To demonstrate how negatively Instagram affected young users’ self-esteem, particularly for girls. One such study was published in The Wall Street Journal.
Although the negative impacts of social media on children are widely acknowledged, a remedy of this nature raises more concerns. According to Kris Perry, executive director of the nonprofit Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, “Children may be put at increased risk. If these laws are enforced in such a way that they’re not allowed to some privacy. If they’re not allowed some ability for freedom of speech or autonomy.”
Social networking apps can also make it easier for youngsters from disadvantaged families. Or those who live in abusive homes to obtain support and community, according to law’s detractors. It’s interesting that Utah is a Republican state because the party is frequently perceived. As being against government interference in people’s private life. Both in terms of personal affairs and commercial operations. The typical criticisms regarding social media and kids are no longer valid.