Utah Governor Spencer Cox on Thursday signed two laws aimed at restricting minors’ use of social media, becoming the first US state to require parental permission for anyone under 18 to use platforms. like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
The two bills, passed earlier this month by Utah’s Republican-controlled legislature, also aim to make it easier to sue social media companies for damages.
The impact of social media on children has been the subject of growing national debate in the United States, where service providers are largely shielded from liability for their content under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
“We are no longer willing to allow social media companies to continue to undermine the mental health of our young people,” Cox, a Republican, said in a Twitter message.
The bills, which the tech industry is opposing, require all users to submit age verification before opening a social media account. Under 18s seeking an exception need permission from a parent.
Source: CNN Brasil
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