Utah Governor Signs Social Media Regulations to Protect Minors

Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox signed a new social media bill that prohibits social media services from allowing users under 18 to have accounts without the explicit consent of a parent or guardian. The new measure will also require social networks to give Utah parents access to their children’s posts, messages, and responses. The law aims to address a “mental health crisis” among American teenagers as well as protect younger users from bullying and child sexual exploitation. However, the law raises significant privacy and free speech concerns, and some warned that it could cut off young people in Utah from major online platforms and infringe on parental rights to decide how their children used the internet.