US states’ social media laws to protect kids create challenges for platforms

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Social media platforms are struggling to navigate a patchwork of US state laws that require them to verify users’ ages and give parents more control over their children’s accounts.

States including Utah and Arkansas have already passed child social media laws in recent weeks, and similar proposals have been put forward in other states, such as Louisiana, Texas, and Ohio. The legislative efforts are designed to address fears that online platforms are harming the mental health and wellbeing of children and teens amid a rise in teen suicide in the US.

But critics—including the platforms themselves, as well as some children’s advocacy groups—argue the measures are poorly drafted and fragmented, potentially leading to a raft of unintended consequences.