U.S. Surgeon General Calls for Social Media Warning Labels, Texas Law Faces Legal Challenges
The U.S. surgeon general recently urged social media platforms to include warning labels about how their services may impact mental health. Meanwhile, a federal judge in Austin has issued a temporary order preventing Texas from enforcing certain parts of a 2024 law governing children’s use of social media. The law, known as the SCOPE Act, requires users under 18 to register their age and restricts what content they can access.
The judge’s ruling comes after two successful legal challenges to the law’s alleged First Amendment violations. The plaintiffs argue that the law restricts access to information for children and burdens adults who wish to view legal content. The judge found that the law’s provisions related to targeted advertising, content monitoring, and age verification likely violate the First Amendment. The Attorney General has appealed the decision.
The lawsuit against the law was filed by various groups, including a student-run organization, a mental health content creator, and a high school student. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression also played a role in challenging the law. The judge found that the state must demonstrate that the law is the least restrictive way to achieve a compelling state interest, which was not proven in this case.
The ruling is not final and only temporarily prevents the state from enforcing certain parts of the law. The case will continue to be tried on its merits. The Attorney General’s office has not provided a comment on the matter.
Source
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
