Goodbye to social media for minors? This state introduced a bill to require the consent of a parent

Nevada legislators, following the path led by Utah last year, have introduced a bill that would limit the ability of children and teenagers to use social media without their parents’ consent. If passed, the new law would require social media companies to verify the age of users and obtain parental consent for minors wishing to open an account.

Additionally, the legislation imposes restrictions on the types of accounts and notifications offered to minors, including limits on when notifications can be sent to avoid sleep and education disruptions.

Pew Research surveys have found that measures introduced in Nevada are popular among voters.

Nevada focuses on the dangers posed by social media for children and teenagers

Despite efforts from companies like Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, to downplay the effects of social media on the mental health of adolescents, the addictive nature of these platforms remains undeniable for both young and older users.

Researchers have warned that social media can have detrimental impacts on the well-being of teens. At Johns Hopkins, researchers surveyed teenagers, half of whom said they use the internet “almost constantly,” with ninety percent visiting a social media platform daily. This constant use of the internet and social media highlights the addictive nature of these sites and the internet itself. While experts acknowledge that social media can positively affect mental health—such as affirming sexual identities—they also recognize the associated drawbacks.

In 2023, the US Surgeon General cautioned that high levels of social media use are thought to cause changes in the developing brains of young users that relate to emotional regulation and learning.

The legislation put forth in Nevada shows that lawmakers are focused on these negative impacts and are seeking to place barriers between minors and social media platforms to reduce these negative effects.

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