By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-1-23
Social media, including short-form video site TikTok, continues to be in the hot seat in the new Congress, particularly as it relates to children’s health.
Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), who last Congress introduced the Stop Online Suicide Assistance Forums Act (it has Democratic support), which would make it a felony to use online forums to assist someone else’s suicide attempt, is introducing a new bill that would ban children 15 and younger from social media entirely.
Speaking on CNN Jan. 31, Stewart called sites like TikTok “emotional heroin“ with direct ties to youth anxiety and depression. Stewart says the key is effective age verification and penalties – legal class-action suits – for ineffective verification in the case of negative outcomes. » Read More