Children and teens in Utah would lose access to social media apps, such as tiktok, if they don’t have parental consent and face other restrictions under a first-in-the-nation law designed to shield young people from the addictive platforms.
Two laws signed by Republican Governor, Spencer Cox Thursday, March 23, prohibit kids under 18 from using social media between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., require age verification for anyone who wants to use social media in the state and open the door to lawsuits on behalf of children claiming social media harmed them. Collectively, they seek to prevent children from being lured to apps by addictive features and from having ads promoted to them. Supporters say studies have shown that time spent on social media leads to poor mental health for children.
