Disruption

Youth online safety push produces novel laws, invites litigation

‘Protecting children online remains a top priority for state lawmakers.’
A line-up of Apple iPhone 13s. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

A multi-year effort by state lawmakers to make online spaces safer for kids produced novel laws this year despite industry opposition that led to some setbacks.

Legislators in Minnesota and New York approved the nation’s first laws mandating surgeon general-style warning labels on social media. New York became the first state to regulate companion chatbots. And bills requiring Apple and Google’s app stores to verify user ages were passed in Louisiana, Texas and Utah.

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