A federal judge in Utah has issued a preliminary injunction against a social media access law that aimed to protect children's privacy and limit their use of social media platforms. The law, known as the Utah Minor Protection in Social Media Act, required social media companies to verify users' ages, apply privacy settings, and restrict certain features on accounts. The law was set to take effect on October 1 but has been temporarily blocked pending further legal proceedings.
The injunction was granted in response to a case filed by NetChoice, a nonprofit trade association representing internet companies like Google, Meta (Facebook and Instagram's parent company), Snap, and X. The judge ruled that the law was unconstitutional, stating that the state had not demonstrated a compelling interest that justified infringing on the First Amendment rights of social media companies.
