I championed groundbreaking legislation to protect kids from the harms of social media.
In Utah, we care deeply about teen mental health. As a parent, I have seen firsthand how social media can have a negative impact on our teens, especially our daughters.
In February, the CDC released data showing that nearly three in five (57%) U.S. teen girls persistently felt sad or hopeless in 2021, doubling that of boys. Additionally, the data showed that nearly one in three girls seriously contemplated suicide. These are staggering statistics.
Since 2010, rates of depression and mental health crises in American teens have nearly doubled, whereas before, rates remained stagnant. Social media creation and use have been linked to these increased rates.
After reviewing the data and listening to many Utah parents, I introduced and passed S.B. 152 Social Media Regulation Amendments during Utah’s legislative session, giving parents the tools necessary to protect their kids from the harms of social media.
S.B. 152 does the following:
- Enacts a strict age verification process.
- Allows parents or legal guardians to set time restrictions on social media use and allows them to access their child’s account.
- Blocks direct messages to minors without being “friends” on the platform.
- Prevents social media companies from collecting and selling data on minors.
Utah is leading the way to fight back against Big Tech by empowering parents with the tools to prevent their kids from falling prey to social media’s negative and sometimes life-threatening effects. Since S.B. 152 passed the Utah Legislature, other states have followed suite, sending a clear message to social media companies that they cannot continue manipulating our children.