“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 18:10
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On July 1st, Idaho enacted the groundbreaking House Bill 542, which is called the “Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act.” The newly enacted law aims to protect minors from the harmful, addictive features of major social media platforms and empower greater parental involvement.
This law is the first of its kind. Now, in Idaho, social media platforms must use age estimation to protect children. If the user is determined to be sixteen or younger, the platform is required to get additional parental permission to allow the child to continue to use the platform.
Kentucky had the chance to pass similar legislation this year, but failed to do so. HB 227, sponsored by Representative Matt Lockett, passed unanimously in the Kentucky State House, but did not get a hearing in the Senate. Because of that, unlike Idaho, Kentucky’s kids are not protected from addictive social media.
The effects of social media on children are extensive. It doubles their risk of depression and alters their brain development. It increases anxiety, body image issues, and sleep deprivation for children. Social media platforms have also been used by predators to target children.
To make matters worse, for states without laws like the one passed in Idaho, children can continue to easily make accounts without parental consent. This means they can expose themselves to all of these harmful consequences without their parents knowing about it.
This is why next year the Kentucky General Assembly must pass legislation protecting children from the harms of social media. For Kentucky to be a leading pro-family state in the nation, parents must be empowered and children must be protected. And that means social media companies must be held accountable.
LET US PRAY…
Father, we praise You for this measure that Idaho has passed to protect children from the harms of social media use and to empower parental authority. Lord, may many more states, including Kentucky, pass laws that empower parents to protect their children from the harm that social media platforms cause. Father, we pray that children throughout America will live life in real time and not waste their time glued to a small screen. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.