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CNN —The record level of migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border loomed over a gathering of governors at the White House this weekend, revealing how the issue has become prominent in states nationwide and across the political spectrum. The National Governors Association holds a gathering of governors at the White House annually to discuss matters affecting their states and other kitchen-table issues. “Everybody realizes that this is a significant problem right now and a challenge,” North Carolina Democratic Gov. White House officials maintain no final decision has been made. Garza and other mayors from across the country met with Biden last month at the White House to discuss the influx of migrants arriving in their cities.

Persons: ”, Greg Gianforte, “, Roy Cooper, Greg Abbott, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Andy Beshear, — Biden, Trump, Spencer Cox, Biden, Doug Burgum, ” Cooper, Phil Murphy, Ramiro Garza, Garza, Abbott, CNN’s Edward, Isaac Dovere Organizations: CNN, National Governors Association, White, ” Montana Republican Gov, ” North Carolina Democratic Gov, Governors, Republican Texas Gov, Democratic, Republicans, Democratic Kentucky Gov, Republican Utah Gov, ” Republican Gov, New, New Jersey Democratic Gov, Republican Locations: Mexico, ” Montana, ”, North Dakota, New Jersey, America, Edinburg , Texas, United States

☆ Opinion: Utah incident reveals this inherent threat in anti-trans efforts to ‘protect’ girls in sports
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Opinion Frankie De La Cretaz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

In 2022, the Utah legislature banned transgender girls from high school girls’ sports. In August 2022, a Utah judge granted a preliminary injunction allowing trans girls to compete on girls’ teams after the parents of two trans girls filed a lawsuit. But as long as transgender girls’ gender identities are policed, cisgender girls will continue to have theirs policed as well. “I avoided athletic activities out of terror, not disinterest,” one participant said (a new study published last month also found that trans girls are primarily avoiding sports out of fear of harassment). If cisgender girls avoid sports out of these fears as well, they stand to be similarly negatively impacted.

Persons: Frankie de la, “, Mary, CNN —, Natalie Cline, Delia M, Harrington, ” Gov, Spencer Cox, Deidre Henderson, “ unconscionable ”, Cline, What’s, Cox, Virginia Foxx, ludicrously, Megan Rapinoe, It’s, —, White, Jim Crow, Sarah Longwell, Melissa Gira Grant, Trevor, Trevor Project’s Organizations: National Women’s Football League, ”, The New York Times, Sports, CNN, Utah State Board of Education, Harrington The Utah State Board of Education, Facebook, Gov, GOP, US Women’s National, Berlin Olympics, Mental Health, Lifeline Locations: Utah, North Carolina, Idaho, California, Nazi Germany

Some bills would bar financial institutions from discriminating against those who refuse to participate in DEI programs. Meanwhile, Democrats have filed about two dozen bills in 11 states that would require or promote DEI initiatives. The Supreme Court’s June decision ending affirmative action at universities has created a new legal landscape around diversity programs in the workplace and civil society. Rob Standridge, who has authored four bills aiming to hollow out DEI programs in the state, said it has become a salient campaign theme. In a 2023 report, White said Mississippi’s public universities are spending millions on DEI programs instead of student scholarships.

Persons: JACKSON, Republican Oklahoma Sen, Rob Standridge, Standridge, “, Trump, ” Mike Gonzalez, Josiah Magnuson, ” Magnuson, Kevin Stitt, it’s, Sen, Marko Liias, Liias, Ron DeSantis, ”, Shad, White, Becky Currie, Currie, Spencer Cox, Cox, Robin Vos, Jonathan Butcher, ” Butcher, Fentrice, ” Driskell, Trisha Ahmed, David Lieb, Hannah Schoenbaum, Todd Richmond, ___ Michael Goldberg Organizations: Republican, Associated, Democratic, Republican Oklahoma, Heritage Foundation, Rep, Republican Gov, Oklahoma State Regents, Higher Education, ”, Washington, Utah Gov, The Heritage Foundation, Democratic House, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Miss, Washington, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Jefferson City , Missouri, Salt Lake City, Madison , Wisconsin

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah’s Republican governor and lieutenant governor are urging the State Board of Education to take action against a conservative school board member whose social media post questioning the gender of a high school basketball player incited a tirade of threats against the girl. But as laws banning trans girls from girls' sports have spread across Republican-led states, false accusations such as this have threatened the safety of both trans and non-trans youths. Spencer Cox said Cline has “embarrassed the state” by dogpiling on a child she thought to be trans. Democratic state lawmakers are calling for Cline's immediate resignation, and the governor and lieutenant governor have asked the school board to “hold her accountable.”The State Board of Education condemned Cline's actions in a statement Thursday but said it has no power or authority to unseat her. The Granite School Board will hold a special meeting Friday to discuss a resolution condemning Cline for targeting one of its students.

Persons: — Utah’s, Natalie Cline, Cline, Deidre Henderson, Spencer Cox, Cox, Henderson, “, ” Cox, vetoing, Troy Williams, Cline's, Governor Cox, Natalie Cline’s, ” Cline, Amanda Bollinger Organizations: LAKE CITY, — Utah’s Republican, State Board of Education, Republican, Gov, Equality, Utah Legislature, Democratic, Jordan School, Granite School Locations: Salt Lake City, dogpiling, Utah, Equality Utah

☆ Utah Bans D.E.I. Programs, Joining Other States
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Vimal Patel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Eight have become law, including in North Dakota, Texas and North Carolina. A law in Texas, which went into effect in January, outlaws D.E.I. The University of Texas at Austin closed its Multicultural Engagement Center last month because of the law. The law in North Dakota, which took effect in August, prohibits mandatory diversity training at the state’s public colleges. bill represented a somewhat surprising shift, said Michael Lyons, a political science professor at Utah State University.

Persons: Spencer Cox, Governor Cox, Michael Lyons, Cox Organizations: Higher Education, University of Texas, Utah State University Locations: Utah, North Dakota , Texas, North Carolina, Texas, Austin, North Dakota, Tennessee

Utah became the latest state to regulate bathroom access for transgender people after Republican Gov. Opponents noted not all states allow people to change their birth certificates and that many trans people don’t want to have surgery. West Virginia’s Legislature is considering a transgender bathroom bill for students this year. “Nobody I know cares if a transgender woman comes into their bathroom, uses it for its intended purpose and walks out,” Birkeland said. Equality Utah, a nonprofit organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, advocated for the amendment but still opposed the bill.

Persons: Spencer Cox, ” Cox, Tennessee —, Kera Birkeland, ” Birkeland Organizations: Republican Gov, West, Republican, American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, Senate, Equality Locations: Utah, — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida , Idaho , Iowa , Kansas , Kentucky, North Dakota , Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia’s, Salt Lake County, Equality Utah

Utah's governor signed a bill into law Tuesday that makes the state the latest to prohibit diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government. The measure signed by Spencer Cox, a Republican who previously said he supported the idea, had cleared the state House and Senate by wide, party-line majorities. The measures have a heavy focus on higher education, but Republicans are also sponsoring ones that would limit DEI in K-12 schools, state government, state contracting and pension investments. They include measures to reverse Florida’s recent ban on DEI in higher education and measures to require considerations in the K-12 school curriculum. Republican-led Florida and Texas were first to enact broad-based laws banning DEI efforts in higher education last year.

Persons: Utah's, Spencer Cox, Cox, vetoing, We’ve, ” Cox, Keith Grover Organizations: Republican, Associated Locations: Washington, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma

☆ Nikki Haley won the backing of New Hampshire's GOP governor. It's a key advantage she just won't have again for a long time.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Chris Sununu's endorsement of Nikki Haley seemingly boosted her in NH despite her loss to Trump in the state's primary. The S.C. primary will be a key test, but Haley will also need backing from Republicans in Super Tuesday states. AdvertisementWhen New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu threw his support behind former UN ambassador Nikki Haley's presidential bid last month, it was a huge coup for her campaign. Phil Scott is the only other GOP governor currently backing Haley's presidential bid.

Persons: Chris Sununu's, Nikki Haley, Haley, —, Chris Sununu, Nikki Haley's, Phil Scott of, Trump Haley, Henry McMaster —, Donald Trump, McMaster, Trump, Phil Scott, Glenn Russell, VTDigger, Joe Lombardo, Scott of Vermont, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Greg Abbott, Kevin Stitt, Mike Dunleavy, Glenn Youngkin, Kay Ivey, Spencer Cox, Bill Lee, she's, Sununu Organizations: Trump, Republicans, Service, New Hampshire Gov, Republican, Phil Scott of Vermont ., Gov, GOP, Arkansas, Texas Gov, Oklahoma Gov, Alaska Gov, Virginia Gov, Alabama Gov, Utah Gov, Tennessee Gov, Trump ., New Locations: Super, New Hampshire, Phil Scott of Vermont, Phil Scott of Vermont . Vermont, South Carolina, Vermont, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Utah

They require age verification for anyone in the state who wants to create a social media account, which critics say could compromise users' data security. “We will continue to lead the nation in protecting kids against social media, and we will hold social media companies accountable for the harm that they are inflicting upon our youth,” Adams said. Since escaping, she has used social media to help girls in similar situations. The laws also create new pathways for parents to sue social media companies for causing their children harm. Federal judges have temporarily blocked Arkansas and Ohio from enforcing their state laws requiring parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts.

Persons: —, Spencer Cox, Stuart Adams, ” Adams, “, NetChoice, Lu Ann Cooper, Hannah Zoulek, ” Zoulek, Cox, Sean Reyes fends, Sen, Kirk Cullimore Organizations: LAKE CITY, Republican, Republican Gov, Rights, “, Sandy Republican Locations: Utah, Arkansas, Ohio

☆ Utah accuses TikTok of misleading users about safety, China connection in new lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Utah is the latest state to file suit against TikTok, alleging the social media site misled its citizens about its relationship to its Chinese parent company and deceptively touted its platform as safe. TikTok has already faced similar lawsuits from Arkansas and Indiana, while Montana has chosen to ban the app altogether, a move that TikTok and creators have challenged. "Social media companies must be held responsible for the harms they are causing," Cox said in a statement. The other elements of the suit touch on concerns that many people have about social media platforms in general, not just TikTok. Utah has been particularly active in seeking to protect its citizens from what it sees as the harmful effects of social media.

Persons: Spencer Cox, Joe Biden, George E, TikTok, Cox, Sean Reyes Organizations: Utah Gov, U.S, Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical, TikTok, . Utah Gov, Social, CNBC, YouTube Locations: Utah, Salt Lake City , Utah, Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, Washington, China, harm's

☆ The Great College Pricing Sham
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( James S. Murphy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

I use quotation marks, because merit aid is granted to half the students at public colleges and 84% at private colleges. Today the average merit-aid discount at private colleges is $23,000 — leaving the student to cover the remaining $30,000 or $40,000. At four-year public colleges, tuition now accounts for 52% of operational revenue, versus 48% from state funding. To make college more accessible, we need to make greater public investments — at both the state and federal levels — in higher education. James S. Murphy is a higher education policy analyst at Education Reform Now.

Persons: Joe Biden, YouGov, Gen, Gen Zers, You'll, Pell Grant, Dominique Baker, —, Getty, Ben Sasse, who's, Sasse, David Feldman, William & Mary, Ford, Feldman, they're, Sandy Baum, It's, There's, Baum, They're, Josh Shapiro, Spencer Cox, shouldn't, James S, Murphy Organizations: Insider, Harvard, of California, Southern Methodist University, Ivy League, U.S . News, Honda, Porsche, University of Florida, McKinsey & Company, University of Oklahoma, University of Kentucky, Ford, Apple, Fordham, Appalachian, William &, Technology, West Virginia University, WVU, Urban Institute, Google, Reform, Twitter Locations: United States, Italian, Appalachian State, America, Pennsylvania, Utah

☆ The Great Salt Lake has lost half its water, and a new lawsuit says it's Utah state lawmakers' fault
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Jesse Bedayn | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Great Salt Lake has shrunk in half since 1847 due to freshwater demand and climate change. Spencer Cox earlier this year created a position and chose the first-ever commissioner of the Great Salt Lake in an effort to find solutions. AP Photo/Rick BowmerThe risks of a diminished Great Salt Lake aren't merely beached sailboats and wider beaches. AdvertisementAdvertisementAs the lake shrinks, it becomes saltierThe sun sets on the Great Salt Lake on June 15, 2023, near Magna, Utah. AdvertisementAdvertisementAlready, a pelican colony on a Great Salt Lake island has floundered after their island became a peninsula, letting in coyotes, Seed said.

Persons: Brian Moench, didn't, Rick Bowmer, Spencer Cox, Moench, Rick Bowmer Stu Gillespie, Gillespie, ____ Jesse Bedayn Organizations: Service, Utah's Republican, Utah Rivers Council, Utah Physicians, Environment, AP, Republican Gov, Chemicals, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Utah, Mississippi, Salt Lake, Magna , Utah, Salt, Marina, Lake, Earthjustice, Chile, Alaska, North America

Utah state officials didn't immediately return a request for comment Wednesday. Spencer Cox earlier this year created a position and chose the first-ever commissioner of the Great Salt Lake in an effort to find solutions. The risks of a diminished Great Salt Lake aren't merely beached sailboats and wider beaches. It threatens species extinction and toxic dust clouds ballooning over nearby communities, the lawsuit says. Already, a pelican colony on a Great Salt Lake island has floundered after their island became a peninsula, letting in coyotes, Seed said.

Persons: ”, Brian Moench, didn't, Spencer Cox, Moench, “, Stu Gillespie, Gillespie, ____ Jesse Bedayn Organizations: Utah's Republican, Utah Rivers Council, Utah Physicians, Environment, Republican Gov, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Utah, Mississippi, Environment . Utah, Salt, Earthjustice, Chile, Alaska, North America

☆ How States Are Threading the Needle on Flag Design
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Mitch Smith | Sarah Almukhtar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

But it found that changing a state flag to make it stand out from the crowd is not a simple process. How States Are Threading the Needle on Flag Design Mitch Smith reported on the Utah flag from Centerville, Orem and Salt Lake City. And they don’t look like any other state’s flag. A version of Maine’s 1901 flagIn Michigan, a lawmaker suggested a panel to consider new flag designs. Some Utahns have already adopted the new flag design, even though it doesn’t officially become the state flag until next year.

Persons: Mitch Smith, Sarah Almukhtar, Brad Holdaway, SuAnn Taylor, “ They’re, Mr, Holdaway, Utahns, of Jesus Christ, Spencer Cox, Cox, Kim Raff, The New York Times “, ” Ted Kaye, NAVA, ” Mr, Kaye, Elizabeth Goodspeed, ”, Goodspeed, “ Hope, Laura Scofield, Doris Turner, Illinois ’, doesn’t, Chad Saunders Organizations: Republican, Beehive State, of Jesus, Gov, The New York Times, American Vexillological Association, Texas, Lone, Capitol, Democrat, Lone Star State Locations: Utah, Centerville, Orem, Salt Lake City, U.S.A, Illinois, Maine , Michigan, Minnesota, California, Rhode Island’s, Nebraska, Texas, California’s, Carolina’s, Maryland , California, South Carolina, New Mexico, South Dakota, Florida, Louisiana, Louisiana . Mississippi, Mississippi, Maine, Michigan, Utah In Utah

☆ A Conversation with Spencer Cox About Utah’s Teen Social Media Law - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Jane Coaston | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The effects of phones and social media on teenagers — and adults — continues to be at the center of public health, tech, civil liberties and more. In March, Utah’s Republican governor, Spencer Cox, signed an extensive package of laws intended to limit kids’ access to social media platforms, including time restrictions and requirements that parents and guardians have access to private messages and posts. Utah’s laws were among the first in a tranche of actions by state governments, like those of Montana and Louisiana, which have greatly limited access to certain social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, either for minors or all users. Some researchers have alleged that social media is responsible for increases in anxiety and depression. But the governor told me he wasn’t worried.

Persons: —, Spencer Cox, ”, balk Organizations: Republican, Utah Locations: Montana and Louisiana

The Republican-led state is currently enforcing a near-total abortion ban, with exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. MONTANA: Governor Greg Gianforte in May signed into law several bills limiting abortion access, including one that aims to overturn a 1999 state Supreme Court ruling that found the state constitution protected a right to abortion. TEXAS: While abortion is completely banned with very limited exceptions in Texas, Republican state representatives have introduced legislation that would compel internet providers to block websites that supply abortion pills or provide information on how to obtain an abortion. UTAH: Republican Governor Spencer Cox in March signed legislation to prohibit the licensing of abortion clinics, which abortion rights advocates say would effectively eliminate access in the state. In April, he also signed into law a bill to shield abortion providers and patients from other states' legal attacks.

Persons: Sam Wolfe, Roe, Wade, Ron DeSantis, Brad Little, Greg Gianforte, Jim Pillen, Roy Cooper's, Doug Burgum, Henry McMaster, Spencer Cox, Mark Gordon, Gretchen Whitmer, J.B, Pritzker, Tim Walz, Gabriella Borter, Sharon Bernstein, Julia Harte, Colleen Jenkins, Alistair Bell Organizations: Carolina House, REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Republican, NORTH, Democratic, SOUTH, South Carolina Supreme Court, Senate, Minnesota, Thomson Locations: Columbia , South Carolina, U.S, FLORIDA, . IDAHO, MONTANA, . NEBRASKA, NORTH CAROLINA, North Carolina, NORTH DAKOTA, North Dakota, SOUTH CAROLINA, Carolina, TEXAS, Texas, UTAH, Utah . WYOMING, CALIFORNIA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, MINNESOTA, OHIO, Washington, Sacramento , California, New York

☆ Utah changed its state flag to honor Mormon work ethic — but it was a total flop. Now, even the state's governor admitted he 'should have known better.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Utah's new flag design is ruffling feathers, and people are already trying to replace it. Spencer Cox said that he should "have known better" that the new flag would be unpopular. Brandon Beckham, a member of Utah's Republican party central committee, told the Journal that the new design is "just a logo." "The original Utah flag has built in its ideals that are true to the founding of the state that are linked to history," Beckham told the Journal. Ryan Woods, a conservative drag performer known as Lady MAGA USA, said the change flies in the face of history.

☆ Pornhub blocks access in Utah over age verification law
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Some of the internet’s biggest adult websites, including Pornhub, are now blocking access to Utah users over a new age verification law that takes effect on Wednesday. Pornhub and other adult sites controlled by its parent, MindGeek, began blocking visitors with Utah-based IP addresses this week. Pornhub, which says it receives 130 million visitors a day, is still available in Louisiana despite the age verification law. But it is unclear whether that system is currently equipped to perform online age verification. MindGeek also owns a separate age verification company known as AgeID, which is currently in use in Germany, though it does not currently operate in the United States.

The Republican-led state is currently enforcing a near-total abortion ban, with exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. NORTH CAROLINA: House Republicans have introduced a bill to ban abortion from conception, except to preserve the life or health of the mother. The Senate tabled discussion of a near-total abortion ban on Thursday after it had been approved by the House. PROTECTIONSCALIFORNIA: A Democratic state senator has introduced a bill to protect doctors who prescribe medication abortion pills to patients in other states. ILLINOIS: Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker in January signed a law protecting abortion providers and out-of-state patients from legal attacks waged by other states.

☆ Senators unveil bipartisan legislation to ban kids under 13 from joining social media platforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The proposed legislation by a bipartisan group of US senators aims to address what policymakers, mental health advocates and critics of tech platforms say is a mental health crisis fueled by social media. “Social media companies have stumbled onto a stubborn, devastating fact,” Schatz said. But it would represent a potentially vast expansion of the government’s role in regulating websites where age verification is a requirement. Tech companies could still develop their own in-house age verification technology or hire third party companies to perform the verification, lawmakers said. Violations of the proposed law could mean millions of dollars in Federal Trade Commission fines for social media companies.

Here is a snapshot of pending and passed legislation seeking to restrict or protect access in 2023. KANSAS: Although Kansans voted in favor of state abortion rights on a ballot measure last year, the Republican-led state Senate has passed a prohibition on prescribing abortion pills via telemedicine. The Republican-led state is currently enforcing a total abortion ban, with exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. MONTANA: The Republican-led state Senate has passed a bill seeking to overturn a 1999 state Supreme Court ruling that found that the state constitution protected a right to abortion. SOUTH CAROLINA: Despite the fact that the state Supreme Court recently struck down a six-week abortion ban in a 3-2 vote, Republicans have introduced a near-total abortion ban and a six-week ban this year.

REUTERS/Lawrence Bryant/File PhotoApril 3 (Reuters) - Planned Parenthood on Monday asked a state court judge in Utah to block a law set to take effect next month that would effectively ban abortion clinics from operating in the state. The case is before Judge Andrew Stone, who last year issued a preliminary order preventing the state from enforcing an earlier abortion ban while he hears a legal challenge by Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood argued that Stone should block the newer law for the same reason, saying it would ban 95% of abortions in the state if allowed to take effect on May 3. "As promised, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah is fighting back and doing everything in our power to make sure that Utahns can get the care they need to stay healthy," Sarah Stoez, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, said in a statement. Twelve of the 50 U.S. states now ban abortion outright while many others prohibit it after a certain length of pregnancy, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights.

☆ Utah just passed a bill that will force children to get parental consent before joining social media platforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Utah's governor Spencer Cox passed legislation restricting teenagers' access to social media. The new bill requires social media firms to obtain parental consent before children can open accounts. It also requires social media companies to establish a curfew for teens from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and scoops — delivered daily to your inbox. Republican Governor Spencer Cox passed the Social Media Regulation Act, which aims to force social media companies to verify the age of all Utah residents before they can sign up for or maintain a social media account. The Associated Press reported that social media companies will likely sue to stop the law going into effect.

☆ Utah to Require Parental Consent for Children to Use Social Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Talal Ansari | Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

At least one civil-liberties group had written to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to oppose the new regulations. Spencer Cox signed two bills on Thursday aimed at regulating how and when children and teens use social media. 152, will require social-media companies to verify that users are at least 18 years old to open an account as of March 1, 2024. Those under age 18 will need the consent of a parent or guardian to open an account.

☆ Utah governor signs bill requiring teens to get parental approval to join social media sites
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

As part of the bill, called the Utah Social Media Regulation Act, social media platforms will have to conduct age verification for all Utah residents, ban all ads for minors and impose a curfew, making their sites off limits between the hours of 10:30 p.m. - 6:30 a.m. for anyone under the age of 18. The bill will also require social platforms to give parents access to their teens’ accounts. “Social media provides a lifeline for many young people, in addition to community, education, and conversation,” said Jason Kelley, director of activism at the EFF. Given that the bill is unprecedented, it’s unclear how exactly the social media companies will adapt. Inouye said minors could “steal” identities – such as from family members who don’t use social media – to create accounts that they can access and use without oversight.

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