Federal judge temporarily blocks Utah social media law aimed at protecting children

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Thu Sep 12, 2024, 08:20 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: AP

Updated 6:10 PM EDT, September 11, 2024


A federal judge in Utah has temporarily blocked a social media access law that leaders said was meant to protect the personal privacy of children and limit their use of such platforms, saying it is unconstitutional.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Shelby on Tuesday issued the preliminary injunction against a law that would have required social media companies to verify the ages of their users, apply privacy settings and limit some features on those accounts.

The law was set to take effect on Oct. 1 but will be blocked pending the outcome of the case filed by NetChoice, a nonprofit trade association for internet companies such as Google, Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — Snap and X. The Utah legislature passed the Utah Minor Protection in Social Media Act to replace laws that were passed in 2023 and were challenged as unconstitutional.

State officials believed the 2024 act would hold up in court. But Shelby disagreed. “The court recognizes the State’s earnest desire to protect young people from the novel challenges associated with social media use,” Shelby wrote in his order. However, the state has not articulated a compelling state interest in violating the First Amendment rights of the social media companies, he wrote.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/utah-tiktok-social-media-youth-b678ed7c9bcc1ea0b72f8b320b5f26fa

[Think. Again.]

1. So, the judge's priority is protecting the 1st amendment rights...

....of some businesses (not actual people, not citizens, but businesses), over protecting the safety and well-being of children.

Get your priorities straight, judge robert shelby.

[HighFired49]

3. Why sure!!

We know that all parents monitor their children 24/7, and don't need any help in keeping their children safe and protected from nefarious actors and companies peddling trash. Now, we can do away with silly stuff like age limits for viewing X-rated media, or going into adult venues for entertainment, etc., because child safety and protection is now handled solely by 24 hr. attentive parents. I guess we can now start having X-rated televised shows, etc. on all media without the interference of useless laws that require age limits.

Just in case,

[Demsrule86]

5. The government should not monitor the internet period....it is parents who must do that.

This is a First Amendment rights issue.

[slightlv]

2. Imo, this right here is whete

Parental responsibility comes in. But it's just so much easier to ban books than keep up with what your kids are doing online. This problem, and I admit there are problems with kids and the Net, is a new manifestation of old problems. Kids getting into dad's skin mags, playing games rather than studying, being bullies. But like always it calls for parents to be actively and vitally involved in their kids lives. That's hard and demanding. But the old saying is as good now as it was then... you can't legislate morality. You can however teach your children right from wrong... how to have empathy and compassion, etc. It just takes time, energy, and the willingness to set ground rules and give them structure. I don't envy new parents in today's world, but everyone swore we were going to hell being parked in front of the tv as kids.

The big issue for me in this is kids growing up not socialized to real people. No matter what the age it can lead to depression, loneliness, even suicide. You can't reach out thru the net and give someone a real hug. And I think a lot of these kids are growing up needing more good "touch" from family and IRL friends.

[Think. Again.]

4. I have to disagree...

If it's a community's choice between keeping children safe or allowing businesses to make wildly excessive profits, the choice should be the public safety of the children.

[Demsrule86]

6. Nope it is a parents job a and not the government's . The first amendment is sacrosanct..

[Think. Again.]

8. We're discussing businesses ...

...making money from endangering children.

And Citizen's United aside, I firmly believe that only citizens can have citizen rights, and only Humans can have Human rights.

The 1st amendment was not written to protect corporate profits.

[Demsrule86]

7. I monitored my kids with Big Brother software and they knew it.

[Think. Again.]

9. I'm guessing you would send your children...

...to school with their own guns to protect them from school shooters, rather than enacting gun laws to reduce the danger?

[republianmushroom]

10. And some want from cradle to grave.

Sorry, can't and won't happen.