Utah is the first US state to implement contentious regulations requiring children to obtain parental permission before using social media.
The new Utah Social Media Regulation Act, which includes H.B. 311 and S.B. 152, was signed by Governor Spencer Cox on Thursday to safeguard minors from the addicting features and targeted advertisements on social media platforms.
Earlier this month, both bills were passed despite objections from lobbyists from the IT sector and civil liberties organizations, who believe the laws violate people’s First Amendment rights.
The deadline for social media companies to comply with the laws is March 1, 2024, beyond which they risk facing both civil and criminal fines.
According to Cox, he plans to collaborate with social media companies to determine how the state will police the new legislation. The bills do not specify how the state will implement the new laws.
“We’re no longer willing to let social media companies continue to harm the mental health of our youth,” he said on Twitter.
