Analysis of State-Level Social Media Regulations Regarding Children (2024)
Undergraduate: Addison Lewis
Faculty Advisor: Amanda Reid
Department: Hussman School of Journalism and Media
The federal government has and continues to attempt to protect children on social media. As social media use continues to increase among children, however, states have created their own legislation to protect children on social media sites and platforms. This thesis employs a textual analysis of ten state laws to determine whom lawmakers aim to protect and what they are protecting against, as there has yet to be a comprehensive understanding and comparison of how these states define vulnerable populations and potential harms. This thesis discusses the disconnect between policy and research regarding the defining of vulnerable populations and potential harms from social media use amongst children. My findings indicate that policy should draw on research to properly consider the unique developmental needs of different age groups, rather than lumping together all individuals under the age of 18. Furthermore, I discuss the disconnect between the examined state laws and literature regarding privacy, due to the implementation of age verification systems in the laws.