Utah leaders, including Governor Spencer Cox, have been at the forefront of a push to require increased safety and greater controls on teen social media use. With Meta’s recent announcement of the introduction of teen accounts on Instagram, Governor Cox issued a statement acknowledging the positive steps being taken while emphasizing that more is still needed. “Utah has always been at the forefront of protecting our children in the digital age, and we appreciate Meta for taking a step in the right direction with the announcement of teen accounts,” shares Governor Cox. “Many of these new features mirror our recently passed laws, demonstrating a growing awareness of the responsibility that social media companies have towards their younger users. However, while these are positive steps, we believe they do not go far enough to ensure the safety and well-being of Utah kids online. We encourage Meta, and all social media platforms, to continue to innovate and implement even stronger protections for minors.” Utah’s HB 464 and SB 194 are being used as a guide as companies like Meta work to implement increased safety measures. Visit socialmedia.utah.gov to learn more about keeping youth safe.
