Arkansas to Require Parent Permission for Teens on Social Media

Arkansas minors will need parental permission to create social media accounts under a law signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) on Wednesday that requires age verification by platforms.

The law (S.B. 396), affecting companies such as Meta Platforms Inc., follows Utah’s first-in-the-nation restrictions on social media use for teens under 18 years old. The Arkansas law, which also allows individuals to sue over violations, will be the first to take effect on Sept. 1.

“The heart of it is to protect children,” state Sen. Tyler Dees (R), the bill’s lead sponsor, told lawmakers April 6.

State legislators ...