Utah Passes New Bill Requiring App Stores to Verify User Age and Identity

Utah’s legislature has passed a new bill that would require app stores to verify the age and identity of all users, including adults. The bill now awaits signature by Governor Spencer Cox, who signed a similar bill last year that was blocked by a federal judge over First Amendment concerns. The intention of the law seems to be a step towards restricting youth access to social media. Governor Cox has been an outspoken critic of social media use by teenagers and previously tried banning TikTok in his state, saying it intentionally designed its app to hook teens. Which is, well, what all social media apps aim to do to all demographics. Governments across the world have sought to rein in the use of social media by teens, arguing they pose a particular threat during early childhood development and are vectors for bullying. Late last year, Australia passed one of the strictest internet crackdowns in the world, banning children under 16 from being on social media altogether, though the gove ... Read full article.