By Gavin Boyle
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed a bill that would require technology companies to make their products less addictive for kids through practices like the removal of a curated algorithm and reduced notifications at night.
“This bill fights back against far-left tech giants who are trying to get our kids addicted to their apps,” Pillen said after signing the law. “By limiting the grip social media has on children, we’re giving parents a chance to fight back. I thank Senator Bosn for partnering with me and leading this effort on the floor. I’m proud to sign this legislation into law for Nebraska families.”
The bill comes with a wave of interest from parents and lawmakers worldwide in making social media less addictive, especially for young users. The EU currently has laws in place that require a chronological feed, rather than an algorithmic one, among other regulations that make website safer for kids to use. Lawmakers in the U.S., however, have had a harder time passing similar laws due to lobbying efforts by big tech and lawsuits that have shot down multiple bills.
NetChoice, a tech group that includes Meta Google, Amazon, Reddit, X and Snap, among other tech giants, sued a similar bill introduced in Maryland in February and has had success blocking other laws in Texas, Arkansas, Ohio, Utah, California, Louisiana and Mississippi. These court-backed blockings hinge on privacy protections along with violations of the First Amendment.
Related: Federal Judge Blocks State’s Child Internet Safety Law
“We share the sponsor’s goal to better protect minors from harmful content online,” NetChoice’s director of state and federal affairs, Amy Bos, wrote in a letter to Governor Pillen. “NetChoice members have taken issues of teen safety seriously and in recent years have rolled out numerous new features, setting, parental tools, and protections to better empower parents and assist in monitoring their children’s use of social media.”
While big tech continues to receive favorable rulings in court, their unchecked reign may soon come to a close as policymakers continue to place pressure on them to change. For example, last summer, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for a surgeon general’s warning to be placed on social media for the undeniable harmful effects it has on developing brains. He attributed the mental health crisis wrecking our society, at least in part, to the impact social media has on users.
The Nebraska law may end up being blocked in court, but the interest by multiple states in forcing tech companies to treat our children better bodes well for the future. Hopefully with enough momentum, change will take place.
Read Next: Lawmakers Move to Protect Children from Social Media Impact
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