Social media companies, beware – Lawsuits are coming soon says Governor of Utah
Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced on Sunday that the state is preparing to take legal action against social media companies for the harm they have caused to young people in his state.
“In the coming months, you will see lawsuits being filed by the state of Utah to hold them accountable,” stated Cox, a Republican, during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
The governor emphasized that they believe social media companies like Meta (formerly Facebook) were aware of the dangers their products posed to children, and there is clear evidence that they intentionally tried to hide this information.
Earlier this year, Cox signed groundbreaking legislation in Utah to impose limits on how minors can use social media. The new laws, set to take effect next year, include a digital curfew for users under 18, requiring parental consent for minors to create accounts, and demanding social media companies to verify the ages of their users in Utah.
These laws are the first of their kind in the United States, although Cox acknowledges that enforcing them could be challenging and may face legal challenges, potentially reaching the Supreme Court.
Cox highlighted the significance of granting families more control over social media usage, citing research that shows a causal link between social media use and negative impacts on mental health, such as an increase in suicide, anxiety, depression, and self-harm.
The ultimate goal is to empower parents and children with greater control over their social media experiences by compelling social media companies to disable algorithms that contribute to harmful addiction among users.
