Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-Arkansas) has just signed a bill into law requiring government issued identification for new social media accounts. For adults opening new accounts it will verify their identity age. Those under 18 they will need to provide their ID and that of a parent or guardian proving identity, age, and parental consent. Social Media companies failing to require this will liable for fines up to $2,500 per violation.

This is following a similar law signed into law by Spencer Cox (R-Utah) on March 23rd of this year. That bill also requires parental permission for social media accounts and age verification. It further requires minors to be banned from social media between the hours of 10:30 pm and 6:30 am.

It is unclear at this time how either law will actually be enforced.

Does the risk of harm to children from social media warrant this, or is it government overreach and a privacy violation?

Would you provide your ID or that of your child for verification?

I noted the political party as it confuses me. Currently both laws and all of the similar potential bills being floated around are in Red (conservative) States. As Republicans are traditionally the party of limited government, what does this tell us about shifting ideologies in the United States?

***I had to completely rewrite this as when I went to hit post the first time I pushed up too hard and the entire thing deleted. It’s not the first time that as happened to me. Anyone else having that issue, or is it a me problem?***