HB0524S01 | Social Media Usage Modifications

Description
General Description: 

This bill establishes the Utah Digital Expression Act.

Highlighted Provisions: 

11 This bill:
12 ▸ authorizes the Division of Consumer Protection to administer and enforce the Utah
13 Digital Expression Act;
14 ▸ provides definitions;
15 ▸ requires a social media company to publicly disclose information regarding its
16 information management and its content moderation practices;
17 ▸ requires a social media company to publish an acceptable use policy on prohibited
18 material and content compliance;

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 03, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 39
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill states that social media companies have to make the following disclosures: accurate information regarding the social media platform's content management, data
management, and business practices, including specific information regarding the manner in which the social media platform:
(a) curates and targets content to users;
(b) places and promotes content, services, and products, including the social media platform's own content, services, and products;
(c) moderates content;
(d) uses search, ranking, or other algorithms or procedures that determine results on the social media platform; and
(e) provides users with performance data on the use of the platform and the social
media platform's products and services.

These disclosures would help parents discern if the social media company uses surveillance capitalism, persuasive technology, and algorithms which encourage addictive usage of social media

Commission: 
Internet Safety
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for laws, policies, and technology development which protects children and youth from surveillance capitalism, persuasive technology, and logarithms which encourage addictive usage of social media.