“Shocking! Judge Blocks Law Protecting Kids from Social Media Dangers – What Parents Need to Know”

A federal judge has blocked the enforcement of a Utah law that would have mandated age verification for social media users and implemented stricter privacy settings for younger individuals.

The law, which was scheduled to take effect on October 1, was challenged by NetChoice, a trade association representing major social media platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and Google. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Shelby ruled in favor of NetChoice, citing concerns that the law would infringe upon First Amendment rights.

In his decision, Judge Shelby acknowledged Utah’s sincere intention to safeguard young people from the unique challenges posed by social media. However, he emphasized that due to the First Amendment’s crucial role in the American democratic system, even well-meaning legislation that regulates speech based on content must meet an exceptionally high standard of constitutional scrutiny.

Chris Marchese, director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, praised the ruling, stating that Utah’s law not only violates the First Amendment but could potentially endanger the very individuals it aims to protect if enforced. NetChoice looks forward to seeing this and similar laws permanently overturned to fully protect online speech and privacy across the nation.

Despite this setback, Utah lawmakers remain committed to pursuing child internet safety laws to protect their youth from the negative impacts of social media. Utah Governor Spencer Cox expressed his belief that social media companies are not doing enough to protect their users, stating that they could voluntarily implement the measures outlined in the law but choose not to do so, prioritizing profits over children’s well-being.

Another social media-related law is still set to be implemented in Utah at the beginning of October. This law will hold social media companies accountable for their impact on children, allowing parents to sue companies if their children’s mental health deteriorates due to excessive use of algorithmically curated apps.

The push for these laws stems from extensive research linking the rise of social media to the growing mental health crisis among young people. Earlier this year, the U.S. Surgeon General recommended warning labels on all social media platforms to better inform the public about the potential dangers of these technologies.

Familyguide previously reported on the Surgeon General’s recommendation:

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy proposed a surgeon general’s warning for social media platforms to serve as a constant reminder to users about the significant negative effects on their health.

“The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency, and social media has emerged as a significant contributor,” Murthy wrote in a New York Times article. “Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms, and the average daily use in this age group, as of the summer of 2023, was 4.8 hours. Additionally, nearly half of all adolescents say social media makes them feel worse about their bodies.”

Murthy called for congressional action to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health risks for adolescents. This suggestion follows years of mounting evidence linking social media use to the youth mental health crisis.