A new law in Arkansas seeks to keep minors under 16 years of age from using social media, but most platforms are exempted in the move.
The Arkansas Online Child Protection Act was passed in April of 2021 and is set to go into effect this summer. The law, which was designed to protect the safety and privacy of minors, prohibits social media accounts belonging to children under 16 years of age.
The law requires parents or legal guardians to provide their permission before a minor can use social media. The law also restricts sharing of contact information and alerts parents if their child is caught using social media without permission.
Despite these restrictions, most social media platforms are exempt from the child protection law. The exemptions include Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. These platforms are widely used by minors and are thus are exempted from the law. The governor of Arkansas has stated that the exemption of these social media platforms was designed to “give parents the most ready access to their children’s online activity.”
In a statement issued by the Arkansas attorney general, he noted “We want to protect our children from the dangers of social media but at the same time, recognize that these platforms are an important way for young people to connect with peers and build relationships.”
Although the new law seeks to protect minors from the dangers of social media, some opponents of the measure have expressed concern that it does not go far enough. Additionally, it will be difficult for the state to enforce the law given the exemptions that are in place.
It remains to be seen how effective the Arkansas Online Child Protection Act will be in protecting minors from the dangers of social media. Regardless, it is a step in the right direction and may help to protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society.