Gov Sarah Huckabee Sanders Signs Bill Banning Minors From Social Media

[NoleATL]

CNN Business reports:

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed a sweeping bill imposing a minimum age limit for social media usage. But even as Sanders signed the bill into law on Wednesday afternoon, the legislation appeared to contain vast loopholes and exemptions benefiting companies that lobbied on the bill. The Social Media Safety Act is aimed at giving parents more control over their kids’ social media usage.
Media companies that “exclusively” offer subscription content; social media platforms that permit users to “generate short video clips of dancing, voice overs, or other acts of entertainment”; and companies that “exclusively offer” video gaming-focused social networking features were exempted. Another amendment carved out companies that sell cloud storage services.

Read the full article.

The bill requires social media platforms to confirm the ages of all users and to refuse accounts to those under 18 unless they have parental permission. Obviously, it would be a shitshow for a global platform to even attempt to enforce.

 

[alaskanseminole]

I was talking to my 22 year old daughter today and she said she's about to dump her Snapchat account because it's just toxic. ...said not to let her little brother anywhere near SM during Middle School (said maybe even HS).

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

Will be interesting to see how things progress with restrictions to social media...

I think it's great to try restrict it, but execution those rules/restrictions will be the challenge.

The data is pretty clear that most social media is TOXIC especially to minors... Most adults can't freaking handle it.

You end up with a very warped view on life AND yourself, when spending hours on social media.

I mostly limit to these old fashioned boards, try to stick to the sports arena. Then family group Snapchat.... Deleted most "acquaintances"

 

[BioHawk]

I hate to say it because it seems unconstitutional to me, but I kind of like restricting teen use of social media. There's a ton of scientific evidence supporting why it might be in kid's best interests to do it. I'm just not sure it is legal and I'm also not sure that adults are really any better with it than teenagers. In fact, this entire country would probably be a better place without it. The whackjobs would lose their audience and can go back to being laughed at on a street corner.

 

[Jerome Silberman]

Well that seems pretty much impossible to implement.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

How would this even be enforced? Good luck telling teenagers they can't use sm. They'll figure out a work around like we did as kids and all kids since the beginning of time.

 

[tumorboy]

Reminds me of the parental control locks on TV's.

 

[WDSMHAWK]

How would this even be enforced? Good luck telling teenagers they can't use sm. They'll figure out a work around like we did as kids and all kids since the beginning of time.

A bunch of adults that probably struggle to check their email without assistance trying to restrict teenagers ability to access what they want on the internet has about 0% chance of working.

 

[fredjr82]

Well that seems pretty much impossible to implement.

My thoughts exactly. How are they going to verify anyone's age? How are they going to remove those using the platforms already. Hands completely tied when it comes to guns, but limitations on Social Media?? Hand me my pen!

 

[BioHawk]

Well that seems pretty much impossible to implement.

This is the other issue with it.

 

[NoleATL]

Social media companies should just block any users from Arkansas

 

[McLovin32]

I was talking to my 22 year old daughter today and she said she's about to dump her Snapchat account because it's just toxic. ...said not to let her little brother anywhere near SM during Middle School (said maybe even HS).

That might say more about her friends than anything else. I'm not sure how snapchat with good friends is toxic....at all.

With that said, I also see nothing wrong with not letting a middle schooler or high schooler on it.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

A bunch of adults that probably struggle to check their email without assistance trying to restrict teenagers ability to access what they want on the internet has about 0% chance of working.

Agree…but it’s worth a try IMO. Social media is toxic for our kids.

 

[Funky Bunch]

She should ban adults from Fox news

 

[Jerome Silberman]

My thoughts exactly. How are they going to verify anyone's age? How are they going to remove those using the platforms already. Hands completely tied when it comes to guns, but limitations on Social Media?? Hand me my pen!

It's just a stupid idea. The fact that it's unenforceable makes any debate on the mechanics moot. Ignoring that, how can anyone have any confidence that, even if Arkansas had the ability to make it work, it would have the desired results. Most nanny-state legislation like this runs into the same sort of problems.

The parents that are concerned enough about the dangers of social media are already probably active in their kid's engagement with SM and likely have an existing open dialog with them. Also, the opt out ability will be used without a thought by lazy parents, making it largely ineffective. I imagine this will have the most impact on the children in homes with helicopter-parents that are more interested in making sure their kids 'don't stray too far from home' than giving them the tools to make it through a life that can be filled with the type of bullying this legislation attempts to protect children from.

 

[sober_teacher]

I hate to say it because it seems unconstitutional to me, but I kind of like restricting teen use of social media. There's a ton of scientific evidence supporting why it might be in kid's best interests to do it. I'm just not sure it is legal and I'm also not sure that adults are really any better with it than teenagers. In fact, this entire country would probably be a better place without it. The whackjobs would lose their audience and can go back to being laughed at on a street corner.

Don’t hate the idea, no idea how you would be enforcing it.

 

[ANYCHawk]

Small government strikes again.

Nothing says small like passing a law that basically has no power or effect.

 

[mnole03]

Arkansas:
Age of consent for sex - 16
Age to use Instagram - 18

 

[Tiny Hands Trump]

I'm sure social media companies will hop right on something Arkansas demands of them.

 

[Jan Itor]

A bunch of adults that probably struggle to check their email without assistance trying to restrict teenagers ability to access what they want on the internet has about 0% chance of working.

You know studies show that social media can/is detrimental to the younger folk.

That said, leave it up to the parents, not SHS.

 

[alaskanseminole]

That might say more about her friends than anything else. I'm not sure how snapchat with good friends is toxic....at all.

With that said, I also see nothing wrong with not letting a middle schooler or high schooler on it.

I don't have snapchat, so maybe I'm wrong about which SM app she's talking about. She's in the Air Force and has a pretty solid peer group.

 

[JRHawk2003]

You could certainly block all those sites on school wi-fi.

I agree it's hard to implement. But I agree with the overall sentiment.

Social Media has been an evil for mankind.

 

[WDSMHAWK]

Agree…but it’s worth a try IMO. Social media is toxic for our kids.

Guns are the leading cause of death for kids in the country and we've waved the White flag on that issue.

 

[JRHawk2003]

Guns are the leading cause of death for kids in the country and we've waved the White flag on that issue.

I agree on guns, but it doesn't mean something shouldn't be done about social media. If these companies were ethical at all they would restrict them to 18+.

 

[WDSMHAWK]

You know studies show that social media can/is detrimental to the younger folk.

That said, leave it up to the parents, not SHS.

I don't disagree but it's an asinine attempt at a solution.

Trying to get stricter standards/rules in regards to harassment and bullying would be a more practical solution IMO... but then you'd have a large group of people claiming that social media sites would be suppressing free speech if they changed TOS to fight these issues.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Guns are the leading cause of death for kids in the country and we've waved the White flag on that issue.

Which has nothing to do with this…

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

I see the Arkansas legislature is working on the really important stuff just like Iowa.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Guns are the leading cause of death for kids in the country and we've waved the White flag on that issue.

Which has nothing to do with this….

 

[WDSMHAWK]

Which has nothing to do with this…

You said this legislation is worth the try because of how toxic social media was to teens, I just pointed out that it was a little ironic considering how the government has given up on passing legislation that tries to prevent gun violence considering it is the leading cause of death for teens.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

You said this legislation is worth the try because of how toxic social media was to teens, I just pointed out that it was a little ironic considering how the government has given up on passing legislation that tries to prevent gun violence considering it is the leading cause of death for teens.

Gun legislation has been passed in just the last year

https://www.npr.org/2022/06/25/1107626030/biden-signs-gun-safety-law

 

[JRHawk2003]

Lets stay on topic here: social media.

I am happy to have the gun fight (no pun intended) in another thread

 

[Joes Place]

Arkansas:
Age of consent for sex - 16
Age to use Instagram - 18

Missouri:

Age of consent to marry off your daughter: 12

 

[Joes Place]

Gen Z is gonna love this restriction...

 

[SoDakHawk]

The tech is there to enforce this. Google has a Family Link app that my kids phones are set up through. To download an app they need to request permission and I have to grant access with a password. I can also monitor how much time they are on their phones, apps used, time on that app, etc. I can also shut them down with one click. Total control over my kid's phones.

We don't let minors buy porn, go to strip clubs, buy alcohol or tobacco, see R rated movies, etc. All kinds of restrictions on minors in our society. This isn't much different.

Granted, enforcement is tough but that doesn't mean the State shouldn't send the message this is important and at least try to tackle the issue.

 

[globalhawk]

The tech is there to enforce this. Google has a Family Link app that my kids phones are set up through. To download an app they need to request permission and I have to grant access with a password. I can also monitor how much time they are on their phones, apps used, time on that app, etc. I can also shut them down with one click. Total control over my kid's phones.

We don't let minors buy porn, go to strip clubs, buy alcohol or tobacco, see R rated movies, etc. All kinds of restrictions on minors in our society. This isn't much different.

Granted, enforcement is tough but that doesn't mean the State shouldn't send the message this is important and at least try to tackle the issue.

The problem is that the state will have to prove that social media is harmful. That won't be easy in a court of law.

 

[mnole03]

We don't let minors buy porn, go to strip clubs, buy alcohol or tobacco, see R rated movies, etc. All kinds of restrictions on minors in our society. This isn't much different.

There’s zero obligation for theater owners to follow the MPAA suggested rating.

 

[DooBi]

I think whatever this is going to cost would be better spent on education for parents and parental controls.

 

[sober_teacher]

The tech is there to enforce this. Google has a Family Link app that my kids phones are set up through. To download an app they need to request permission and I have to grant access with a password. I can also monitor how much time they are on their phones, apps used, time on that app, etc. I can also shut them down with one click. Total control over my kid's phones.

We don't let minors buy porn, go to strip clubs, buy alcohol or tobacco, see R rated movies, etc. All kinds of restrictions on minors in our society. This isn't much different.

Granted, enforcement is tough but that doesn't mean the State shouldn't send the message this is important and at least try to tackle the issue.

You're also assuming that most parents are 1) responsible; 2) don't let the kids setup their own phones; 3) are honest; actually monitor their kids to make sure they don't figure out workarounds.

I don't hate the idea of restricting access to social media to minors. I think enforcement is a lot easier said than done, and also I'd like to once again point out that the party of small government doesn't have a problem with telling people what to do in the privacy of their own homes.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

I hate to say it because it seems unconstitutional to me, but I kind of like restricting teen use of social media. There's a ton of scientific evidence supporting why it might be in kid's best interests to do it. I'm just not sure it is legal and I'm also not sure that adults are really any better with it than teenagers. In fact, this entire country would probably be a better place without it. The whackjobs would lose their audience and can go back to being laughed at on a street corner.

I don't think it's unconstitutional at all.

Enforcement will be the bigger issue.

Maybe the laws might push social media companies to work on a way to help enforce these laws.

But I agree, it is a good thing for children to either not be on social media or to have their social media use monitored by parents.

 

[alaskanseminole]

The problem is that the state will have to prove that social media is harmful. That won't be easy in a court of law.

I think there's enough studies out there to prove it. Hell, The Social Dilemma puts forth a pretty convincing narrative in and of itself.