What are your thoughts on Utah becoming the first state to ban social media for children under 18?

Question

“The winds of change are blowing”

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

First, let's do our due diligence and find the law itself so we all can read it directly from the State of Utah.

It's here:
https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/SB0152.html

Bills have a lot of mundane bullshit in them, so let's get to the gist of it which the bill summarizes up top:

7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill enacts provisions related to the regulation of social media companies and
10 social media platforms.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ defines terms;
14 ▸ enacts the Utah Social Media Regulation Act;
15 ▸ requires a social media company to verify the age of a Utah resident seeking to
16 maintain or open a social media account;
17 ▸ requires a social media company to obtain the consent of a parent or guardian before
18 a Utah resident under the age of 18 may maintain or open an account;
19 ▸ prohibits a social media company from permitting a Utah resident to open an
20 account if that person does not meet age requirements under state or federal law;
21 ▸ requires that for accounts held by a Utah minor, certain social media companies:
22 • shall prohibit direct messaging with certain accounts;
23 • may not show the minor's account in search results;
24 • may not display advertising;
25 • may not collect, share, or use personal information from the account, with
26 certain exceptions;
27 • may not target or suggest ads, accounts, or content; and
28 • shall limit hours of access, subject to parental or guardian direction;
29 ▸ requires a social media company to provide a parent or guardian access to the
30 content and interactions of an account held by a Utah resident under the age of 18;
31 ▸ directs the Division of Consumer Protection to receive and investigate complaints
32 of violations of the requirements established under the act and impose
33 administrative fines for violations;
34 ▸ authorizes the division to seek enforcement through an injunction, civil penalties,
35 and other relief through the judicial process;
36 ▸ requires fines and civil penalties to be deposited into the Consumer Protection
37 Education and Training Fund;
38 ▸ requires an annual report from the division;
39 ▸ authorizes a private right of action to collect attorney fees and damages from a
40 social media company for harm incurred in relation to a violation of the
41 requirements established by the act;
42 ▸ prohibits certain waivers; and
43 ▸ provides a severability clause.

============================================

I think it's fabulous.

razelove · Accepted Answer

It's just virtue signaling, Louisiana has a law banning access to porn in the state unless you scan your drivers license. Call me crazy, but I don't trust pornhub with my drivers license, so I just deal with higher ping through my vpn.

There will be a lot of adults in Utah doing the same thing there because they don't trust twitter, facebook, whoever with their social security number or whatever, much less teens. There are many easy and free ways to get around that, they just want to "express their tough and firm stance!".

Alessa13 · Accepted Answer

Time will tell, as it will probably be one of those "are you over 18" buttons someone can click on.

Which is fine by me actually, I totally support that for age verification. Now if later on something happens and it is found out someone under 18 lied when they clicked it, then they should be charged with a crime. Something like committing fraud to get online to social media.

I am all for parents having more control but so many don't want to do it. Social media can already be banned if parents want to block specific addresses in their router, such as porn sites or social media. They can already set internet to shut off at specific times for specific devices in their household

Usually when something like this happens, what I hear is how the government needs to step in, not parents cause parents don't have the know how or the time.

Like when LA started requiring ID to access porn, what a joke. I wonder if they will do the same thing or simply just trust that whoever clicks the button is really 18 or up.

It isn't like someone can't just make an account and say they are 18, tons of people here on GAG have incorrect birthdates in their accounts.

Oh and then VPN, guess what... not showing up in Utah anymore.

Personaly I'm not a fan of social media, I think that is where mass shooters get created, online bullying does major mental damage to some people and then they grow up messed up.

I'm also for parents being more proactive.

It will be 5 to 10 years though I think before we see any real results from this.

FeelingGroovy · Accepted Answer

I feel your pain when it comes to asking questions on this site. My question was elevated to great, then removed for being spam, and now it's back to being great.

You should have asked it this way (although that still wouldn't work)

"If, magically, social media could be banned for kids under 18, would you be for it?'

It would still be a shit show, but you might get one or two people to understand your question.

All I'm reading from the replies is about not being able to enforce it.

If it could happen, it would be nice for kids not being able to access social media.

OfMiceandMen · Answer

I mean most parents are totally oblivious to their kids on-line, anyway. But I can see a lot of kids where consent is given making some extra cash on the side cash from kids who do not receive parental consent.

There will be a whole underground network of social media accounts in Utah.

Instead of drugs it'll be:

Hey Billy, you got the goods?

Sure do, slips Bobby a sheet of paper with an pre-authorized social media account, and Bobby slips Billy a $20.

At that point you look at the politicians, the lawmakers, the parents who requested the ban and say... well wasn't that just an exercise in futility shitshow?

TenderFantasy · Answer

That's going to be HARD, if not impossible to implement. Children will ALWAYS be curious and sneaky. I don't think they remember being a child or teen (even if under 18) lol. If they can get it illegally (hell I've seen underage drinking and underage porn, etc. in the past, what's to stop them from this stuff? ? !).

If they can pull it off, then maybe. I'd be for it, but I'd be very curious to see how they'd do it! Social Media, at least to me, isn't that bad. It's the PARENTS and SOCIETY as a whole (people's morals) that need more reform than Social Media. Just turn it off or don't have a computer or something.

I think it will be a disaster considering teenagers are at an age where they start to REALLY care how their peers see them and even what people of the opposite sex view them too.

NaultD · Answer

Porn sites also require visitors to be 18 and older by clicking the green button. Ask yourself when you looked up porn on the internet the little southpark fan that you are. Remember the movie it was bigger, longer and uncut.  or this episode

Soteris · Answer

Pointless. First of all, can't be enforced. Secondly, I do so love when the "land of the free" continues to strip freedoms from people. Lastly, this warms my heart. As the Republicans becomes ever more frustrated with young people not supporting them politically it is encouraging that their kneejerk reaction to this is to attack them directly and to try prevent them from standing up to the GOP.

Since GOP finds young people using social media as a threat, that becomes the first thing that they try to stop them from doing. Along with reading books of course, but that is about as age old as the GOP itself. It is a sign of the GOP losing control and they are throwing the equivalent of a legal tantrum over it. Funny as hell to watch and their tears lubricates the wheels of progressives. This is going to backfire, hard.

Anonymous · Answer

If you think this is about protecting minors, think again. This is a back door to ending online anonymity. To comply with the law, social media companies will have to verify the identity of every user to ensure that they aren’t minors. It’s unclear yet how they will be required to do that. Digital ID? Credit card number? Facial recognition? Scans of a government ID? Think about it. How else will they know if you’re an adult or a minor using the site? These companies would then have even more information about you to sell and be forced to potentially share with the government. Several states are considering similar legislation. As more states pass this, they’ll likely force the ID requirement on everyone to avoid the inconvenience of having to tailor the platform to individual states.

Dargil · Answer

It's not a ban. It is a restriction requiring parental consent. The Utah legislature has approved this, meaning voters presumably support it. If they disagree in the next election. That's the  democracy  works.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

„Well, in those days Mars was a dreary, uninhabitable wasteland, much like Utah. But unlike Utah, Mars was eventually made liveable.“  - Prof. Farnsworth, Futurama

mobiusforniner · Answer

In a state thats predominantly Mormon, controlling information is paramount to the church's survival. Keep the kids dumb, and they won't know any different.

He who controls the past, commands the future.

He who commands the future, conquers the past

purplepoppy · Answer

I'm surprised people in Utah are even allowed the internet. Isn't it one of those ultra religious places where the church controls everything?

welcomemen · Answer

I think it would be good for peoples mental health

Surely · Answer

I am not an attorney to decipher all of the legalities. Possibly a good idea on paper. But I am sure that there will be plenty of work-a-rounds! And parents that just want their children out of their hair!

Tamera952 · Answer

Umm, …. Utah is a weird state & not really representative of progressive ideas or new approaches to societal challenges — so, they may think they’re doing the right thing, but banning anything is usually a bad idea & probably going to backfire. It seems reactionary & not really addressing the underlying problems with social media.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

I wish every state would do it. But of course there is no way to enforce it.

lightbulb27 · Answer

I'm usually for freedom, but I agree. Social Media is really raw sewage spewed into your childs brain... too dangerous. Requiring parental consent AND oversight is essential.

genericname85 · Answer

oh. so classical tv and church have the exclusive rights on inductrinating the youth again?

Anonymous · Answer

oh really? nice! though I feel like 16 would have been enough.

WanderingLoveWizard · Answer

It should be up to their parents, not the state! Radical right wingers are just as restrictive on freedom as the radical left. Fucking nut jobs, all of them

OddBeMe · Answer

Pilot: We’re descending into Salt Lake City…set your watch back 50 years.

SomeRandomGuy89 · Answer

I honestly think social media should be banned for all children. The level of damage these things do to the human brain is absolutely crazy. It's destroying a generation.

I don't believe even parental consent should be a loophole.

Jessica405 · Answer

Waste of time. Only takes one computer savvy kid to find out about free VPN's. These so called politicians just have no idea what they are doing.

melanieeeB · Answer

Why not rather teach the kids and parents how to use the internet and social media the right way, instead of just banning it?
When those kids grow up and jump onto it.. well then the shit wil be burning tbh

parangat · Answer

It is perfect actually teens using social media really ruins there life and the people who think no they deserve it they can handle it... Bruh they're high on hormones they can't handle anything they're always gonna be moody and social media will always be a escape.

TomMarks · Answer

And how do they plan to enforce that law? People create fake accounts all the time. And will that be a slippery slope to no online gaming under 18? (Again how would they enforce such a concept.)

Anonymous · Answer

parental consent is a good thing. There's too much going on in the world right now that is seemingly focused on destroying the family. It's good to see things like this pop up, designed to get parents more involved in their kid's lives.

But there's always gonna be those people who believe in ultimate freedom, at any age, and that families and parents are just in the way of a good time. 😣

exitseven · Answer

I am not sure I like it but I would be interested in the results.

Unit1 · Answer

Nice try but i'm gonna say its gonna be futile. Ban smoking for underage people and them kids still smoke and kill themselves in the second slowest way possible.

007kingifrit · Answer

great news, social media is incredibly damaging to kids, louisiana now requies an ID to access porn sites as of this year also

HighValue · Answer

Parents giving their kids a smart phone which Grant's them unsupervised access to the internet are guilty of child abuse in my opinion.

slatyb · Answer

Unenforceable. They can't build "The Great Firewall of Utah"

gorydetails · Answer

I'm not sure how it's enforceable, but I don't hate the idea.

BCA6010 · Answer

While I agree with the premise, good luck actually enforcing that.

Likes2drive · Answer

Well, it’s pretty interesting because I don’t know how they’re going to enforce it after they get home, but they should be only doing schoolwork while in school anyway

ThomasDavid1989 · Answer

Culture wars continue for republicans. When will it end Didn't tenn. just have another shooting?

Nikki1989 · Answer

Good luck enforcing that law.

Littlejugs99 · Answer

Sounds good but how do you enforce it?

Anonymous · Answer

I think it's great and hope of states will follow Utah's lead.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

How is that even possible? I don't understand how you can keep someone off social media?

boobliker · Answer

About time someonedid something it. to much stuff that kidsshould not see out there

Iron_Man · Answer

Good they don’t need to spend all day on the Internet

msc545 · Answer

Utah is run by a religious cult - what did you expect?

Jamie05rhs · Answer

I think it's fantastic and absolutely the right thing to do.

LiamJHayden · Answer

Good luck enforcing it. Most teens know more about VPN's than adults do.

Anonymous · Answer

Social media hurts more people than it helps. I can't say I'm particularly off out by this change.

Anonymous · Answer

I support this. My children, if i have them, won't have access until they are 18.

najekim · Answer

May not be a bad idea. Perhaps using a credit card as verification might work.

Anonymous · Answer

Awesome. Should be the law everywhere.

CB-Raido-Time · Answer

But they didn't ban that there>

Agape93 · Answer

Good

FallingSkies_18 · Answer

That seems extreme and very unlikely.

Anonymous · Answer

Good for them. I think that I should move there.

Anonymous · Answer

It won’t stop them.

Anonymous · Answer

Ban sugar to minors, that’d be a smarter ban

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

That’s stupid

tiajoka · Answer

That’s great

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