Social media addiction has become more intense since the access online is now available to all people, even for those children who are very young to use the apps like Facebook or Twitter.
Soon enough, parents could now use the companies behind these apps following the California bill that was passed earlier this week.
California Parents Could Sue Social Media Firms
(Photo : Kelly Sikkema from Unsplash)
Parents in California could soon sue social media platforms that harm their children online.
According to a report by NBC News, the parents from California could soon file a lawsuit against Facebook and other social media platforms following a new bill that entered the state Assembly recently.
It should be noted that firms that will influence children to be addicted to social media will be slapped with a violation. Each violation will mean that a company will pay up to $25,000, the bill states.
As for the context of addiction, the bill says that it's for young individuals below 18 years old who are obsessed with social media.
With that being said, it will tackle the physical, mental, developmental, emotional, and material aspects of harm to the children.
Several organizations, including business groups, are vocal about the bill. According to them, once the bill passes, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms could potentially stop their operations in California to avoid any legal strikes.
The Limitation of the Bill
Although the California bill plans to penalize the social media firms which cause harm to the young users, the coverage of this is not all the platforms catering the same service.
This will only be applicable to firms that posted at least $100 million in gross revenue over the previous year. In short, the bill could likely hit social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter, which are currently forerunners in the competition.
More importantly, the bill won't cover Netflix and other streaming platforms.
Per Jordan Cunningham, the bill's author, the bill will protect the kids from further harm online.
"The era of unfettered social experimentation on children is over and we will protect kids," the Assemblymember said about the proposal.
Related Article: TikTok Videos Really Get You Hooked By Tricking Your Brain: Sociologist
Symptoms of Social Media Addiction
Like any other form of addiction, the online obsession with social media apps can be haunting, especially for parents who only want a safe space for their children.
In an article from The Independent, you need to know the early signs of online addiction to a person. If someone is always stalking profiles, it might be a hint that an individual is addicted to social media.
There are instances when a person could be in a "low mood" because he/she can't keep in touch with his/her friends online. This could likely result in insomnia or headache-like symptoms.
At some point, the affected user could easily feel irritated or anxious, especially when the internet is unresponsive. In another example, a person could compromise his/her performance at work or school because he/she spends more time using social media apps.
Read Also: Meta Researchers Conclude Facebook, Other Media Platforms Make People More Lonely
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joseph Henry
