Ben Winslow is a reporter with FOX 13 covering a variety of topics including politics, polygamy, vice and courts.
SALT LAKE CITY — The state is proposing new rules for youth access to social media, following legislation aimed at curbing kids' use of platforms that state leaders say can be harmful.
The proposed rule was released Monday by the Utah Division of Consumer Protection, which is a part of Utah's Department of Commerce. The Social Medial Regulation Act would require social media platforms to verify if a user is a minor and then require them to obtain parental consent before opening an account.
"The Division has determined that existing technologies can verify accurately whether a user is a minor. Social media companies may utilize these technologies, examples of which are listed in the rules, enabling them to offer users multiple secure and private options while balancing cost, accuracy, and the level of friction for obtaining an account," the agency said in a statement.
An administrative rule, which has the effect of law, is drafted by an agency and crafted through a public comment process. The division has opened a public comment period until February 5, 2024. After the public comment period ends, the rule can be sent back for changes or go into effect. Social media companies would have until March 1, 2024 to comply. The Division can issues fines up to $2,500 per violation if a company fails to comply.
The state has gotten increasingly aggressive against social media companies for alleged harms to children. The governor and Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes announced a lawsuit last week against TikTok, accusing it of crafting an addictive algorithm that impacts youth mental health and deceptive practices with state authorities. The state is seeking a contempt of court citation against TikTok, accusing it of not complying with Commerce department subpoenas.
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