In response to a growing mental health crisis among young people, state legislators across the United States have implemented various measures to increase children’s online safety. One recent example is a new Louisiana bill that could impact minors’ access to vast sections of the internet.
The bill prohibits online services, including social networks, multiplayer games, and video-sharing apps, from allowing individuals under 18 to sign up for accounts without parental consent. Furthermore, Louisiana parents can cancel the terms-of-service contracts that their children sign for existing accounts on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Fortnite, and Roblox.
Republican state legislator Laurie Schlegel, who introduced the measure, stated that the bill only clarifies existing rules covering contracts signed by unemancipated minors. She emphasized that young people lack the capacity to comprehend and consent to the numerous terms required to open an account on online services.
On Tuesday, the Louisiana State House passed the bill by a unanimous vote of 97 to 0, following the State Senate’s approval. However, it still needs Governor John Bel Edwards’s endorsement. If signed, it will go into effect on August 1, 2022.
The new bill is part of a growing trend of state laws regulating internet services that threaten young people. Additionally, it shows escalating efforts by Republican state legislators to increase families’ control over their children’s online activities.
While the bill may be favorable to parents concerned about their children’s exposure to inappropriate content or unhealthy online behavior, TechNet— an industry group with members such as Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Snap, and Uber— opposes the measure. TechNet believes it is overly broad and could cause complications for all users.
The Louisiana bill highlights the need for stringent age-verification and parental-consent procedures on online services, and some platforms that currently depend on voluntary birthdate disclosures could institute more stringent protocols. It remains to be seen how widely the Louisiana measure and other similar bills will be adopted. However, Ms. Schlegel’s pornography bill and other laws governing contracts with minors suggest that the measures may become widespread.
Ms. Schlegel argues that “it is time for big tech to be more responsible to our children online,” echoing growing concerns that social media poses a grave risk to young people’s mental health. Although groups have raised concerns about how such measures could impact young people’s access to online information, Ms. Schlegel believes that “the harm is real.”
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
