In a move that ramps up parental control over minors' use of social media, Tennessee lawmakers have championed a new bill requiring kids under 18 to get the green light from their folks before creating an online profile, the "Protecting Children from Social Media Act" cruised through both the House and Senate, legislators from the Volunteer State contend it's a stride toward safeguarding the younger population from digital perils. According to Local Memphis, the bill obtained sweeping approval, sailing through the Senate with a unanimous vote and earning accolades in the House with a dominant 88-2 support.
With the digital age in full swing, efforts to police the online activity of kids are on the rise nationwide, and Tennessee's recent legislation aligns with similar measures in states including Louisiana, Texas, and Utah – albeit Arkansas' law is currently on hold amid a judicial challenge. As per AP News, the latest tweak to Tennessee's bill explicitly limits its reach to social media websites and further legislative steps are needed before the governor can weigh in, to comply with federal law currently prohibits children under 13 from signing up on social platforms – a rule that has proved all too easy to sidestep by tech-savvy kids.
Amid a climate where the peril of unregulated internet exposure for kids keeps parents awake at night, a sweeping majority of Tennessee voters back new tools for parental oversight online, with an imposing 86% of folks standing firm on the notion that finding explicit content is far too simple for the little ones. "There's a healthy tension that exists with this legislation," Rep. Justin Pearson (D - Memphis) reflected on the correlation between social media and rising suicide rates, mentioning a fear inducing linkage between the two, as detailed in a statement obtained by The Tennessean.
The legislative push in Tennessee comes as other states join the mission to impose age verification systems to create a safer online environment, inadvertently, a political slam dunk that finds common ground across the spectrum, it’s a notion that’s caught fire from Virginia to Montana, and with robust bipartisan support, it's gaining momentum, underscoring the shared concern amongst Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike – the welfare of children transcends politics. With tech giants now in the hot seat to devise reasonable measures for age verification as stated on the House floor by Rep. Jake McCalmon (R - Franklin), Tennessee's spotlight on digital child safety could set precedent for a national template, provided Governor Bill Lee affixes his signature, the law would take effect at the dawn of 2025.
