Utah governor signs bill to curb children’s social media use

Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) signed two bills into law that would impose sweeping restrictions on kid and teen use of social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok — a move proponents say will protect youth from the detrimental effects of internet platforms. One law aims to force social media companies to verify that users who are Utah residents are over the age of 18. The bill also requires platforms to obtain parental consent before letting minors use their services, and guardians must be given access to their child’s account. A default curfew must also be set. Tech companies must block children’s access to social media apps between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., although parents would be allowed to adjust those limits. The platforms also must prohibit direct messaging by anyone the child hasn’t followed or friended, and they must block underage accounts from search results. The Utah restrictions additionally bar companies from collecting children’s data and targeting their accounts with advertising. The effort also attempts to prohibit tech companies from designing features in their services that would lead to social media addiction among kids.