Megan Basham

He wanted this bill to be even more strict. He wanted it to extend to residents under 18 years old. And he wanted the bill to limit addictive features like autoplay on videos where one video plays right after another and infinite scrolling where there's just no bottom to your scrolling. Here's Governor Youngkin.

The act will take effect on January 1st of next year, so 2026.

The act will take effect on January 1st of next year, so 2026.

Yeah, in states led by both Democrats and Republicans. Lawmakers appear to have gotten the message that parents, no matter their political leaning, they want their kids protected online. In California, for example, Governor Newsom signed a bill last year that blocks platforms from providing addictive social media feeds to minors without parental consent.

Yeah, in states led by both Democrats and Republicans. Lawmakers appear to have gotten the message that parents, no matter their political leaning, they want their kids protected online. In California, for example, Governor Newsom signed a bill last year that blocks platforms from providing addictive social media feeds to minors without parental consent.

It also restricts companies from sending notifications to minors during certain hours, like late night hours on a school night. And then in Florida, Governor DeSantis signed a bill that requires social media companies to verify the age of users and to actually terminate accounts of kids who are under the age of 14.

It also restricts companies from sending notifications to minors during certain hours, like late night hours on a school night. And then in Florida, Governor DeSantis signed a bill that requires social media companies to verify the age of users and to actually terminate accounts of kids who are under the age of 14.

If you're 14 or 15 years old in the state, you can have an account on social media, but you're going to have to get parental consent. If a company is found violating that law, they could face fines up to $50,000 per violation. Florida, by the way, has been a leading state on this subject.

If you're 14 or 15 years old in the state, you can have an account on social media, but you're going to have to get parental consent. If a company is found violating that law, they could face fines up to $50,000 per violation. Florida, by the way, has been a leading state on this subject.

DeSantis signed a bill back in 2023 that made Florida the first state in the nation to ban cell phone use in schools during instruction time.

DeSantis signed a bill back in 2023 that made Florida the first state in the nation to ban cell phone use in schools during instruction time.

Now, in Utah, we have a social media curfew. Minors there can't access social media between 10.30 p.m. and 6.30 a.m. unless a parent overrides that default setting. The general pattern that we're seeing across these different states are age verification measures and restrictions for minors as the default setting, though those can be changed through parental consent.

Now, in Utah, we have a social media curfew. Minors there can't access social media between 10.30 p.m. and 6.30 a.m. unless a parent overrides that default setting. The general pattern that we're seeing across these different states are age verification measures and restrictions for minors as the default setting, though those can be changed through parental consent.

Right, that's exactly right.

Right, that's exactly right.

Yes, some of these laws that deal with age restrictions in particular, they're being held up or blocked by legal challenges. For example, that Florida law that bans children under 14 from making accounts on these platforms, that was initially held up. Big tech platforms argued that restrictions were in violation of the First Amendment.

Yes, some of these laws that deal with age restrictions in particular, they're being held up or blocked by legal challenges. For example, that Florida law that bans children under 14 from making accounts on these platforms, that was initially held up. Big tech platforms argued that restrictions were in violation of the First Amendment.

They took issue with this law effectively requiring adults to prove their age for some of these websites. Similar legislation is still being held up in other states too, including in Texas.

They took issue with this law effectively requiring adults to prove their age for some of these websites. Similar legislation is still being held up in other states too, including in Texas.

Well, you know, President Trump has made it very clear for some time that he's no fan of public broadcasting. Just recently, he posted that Republicans must defund and totally disassociate themselves from NPR and PBS, the radical left monsters that so badly hurt our country. So close quote, of course, there.