SALT LAKE CITY — An effort to prevent kids from using social media without parental approval cleared a House committee last week, despite concerns from both sides of the aisle that the bill is a potential violation of privacy.
HB311 is the second high-profile social media regulation bill winding its way through the Utah Legislature this year. Sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, the bill would require social media companies to verify the ages of all their users in Utah, and prohibit minors from creating accounts without parental consent.
“Quite honestly, I think this is maybe one of the most important bills that we will consider this session,” Teuscher told the House Judiciary Committee on Friday. “And I say that because over the last couple of years as I’ve served in this position, one of the number one things I hear from constituents and parents is concerns about social media.”
