States Enforce Parental Control Over Children's Social Media Usage

Several US states are introducing legislation that requires social media companies to conduct age verification for all state residents and to obtain consent from guardians for minors before they join a platform. While some parents may welcome the move, digital rights advocates and child safety experts say the wave of new state legislation risks undermining privacy for teens and adults, puts too much burden on parents and raises serious questions about enforcement. The bills are also problematic because users in these states will no longer remain anonymous, which could lead to fewer people of all ages expressing themselves and seeking information online.