Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation last week requiring social media companies to verify ages and obtain parental consent for users younger than 18 who're trying to open new accounts.
While Meta has not said how it will comply, a spokesperson shared that the company already has tools that let parents limit the time teens spend on Instagram, as well as age-verification technology that helps teens have age-appropriate experiences. Meta doesn't allow content that promotes suicide, self-harm or eating disorders. More than 99% of content that Meta removes or takes action on is identified by the company before it's reported to Meta.
"The last time I read the First Amendment, it didn't say you had to be 18 years old to enjoy the rights of free speech," Larry Magid, president and CEO of ConnectSafely — a California-based nonprofit that advocates for online safety — told Axios. Magid argued that while parents have the right to forbid their children from having social media accounts and companies have the right to only offer their services to adults, a law restricting access to social media violates free-speech rights.
He conceded that social media can pose some dangers for teens and that stronger age verification systems are needed. However, teens use social media for a variety of purposes, he noted, such as getting involved with political or religious groups. The platforms can also offer mental health resources for teens who lack such support in their communities.Tim Griffin told Axios he doesn't see any structural problems with the law.
"It's pretty clear that we are able to do what it charges us with doing, and I think that certainly there will be challenges to the extent it involves actors who are outside the state."
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