The link to “story submission page” leads back to TD’s homepage. I found it by Google-searching “techdirt article submission.” There’s the meta-comment.

original:
TX just passed kiddie social website law which is incredibly overbroad and will hopefully be struck down (see below for my thoughts on why) or cause lots of content hosting sites all over the world to employ a lot more Tums or Zantac or whateverPrazole for stomach acid treatment.

Link (original):
https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/14/23760975/texas-ban-social-media-kids-louisiana-utah
Also covered on /. I’m going to guess Ms Harding will chime in on Ars as well.

E

Now the opinion: Those in the United States who have not yet reached the ages of majority are provided less rights. Sometimes “rights” are couched as “privileges” to allow easier demarcation of “the State giveth and the State taketh away” without consequence.

I’ll list some examples below.

The point is that a minor OUGHT to be allowed the constitutional rights granted to ALL denizens (yeah, think citizen but also resident and also tourist… and anyone subject) to the laws of the United States.

So here along comes Texas, and in between busing migrants to California, while suing Florida for… busing migrants to California… and says that minors ARE NOT ALLOWED to participate on social media (broad) without parental consent.

Let’s ignore that subtleties of requiring EVERY SINGLE SITE that hosts ANY CONTENT on the ENTIRE INTERNET to have to keep track of “who is a minor in Texas”, and then AUDIT AND VERIFY that some person claiming to be their parent/guardian authorized access. Just go with the “Hey why can’t someone WHO CAN WEAR WHATEVER SHIRT THEY WANT TO JUNIOR HIGH not be able to post that picture of them doing exactly that on e.g. FB, IG, YT, etc.?

Minors have rights. I won’t speak as to curfews because that extends more deeply into civil righs than I –as a nonlawyer– feel comfortable going into, and those differ dramatically across the US, EU, and other areas.

So, here you go as to where minors get a raw deal BUT IN REALITY should have the full rights under the US Constitution.

Examples include: Can’t get a learner’s permit for driving on public roadways under the age of 16 (14 in Arkansas and other states where marrying your cousin is legal). https://www.iihs.org/topics/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table

Can’t purchase a “long gun” (that is a real term unlike “assault rifle”) under the age of 18 (16 in some states where spitting tobacco is “cool”.

Can’t purchase a pistol (laws differ on what THAT is…) under the age of 21 (18 in some states where if you shoot yourself in the foot you can still claim workmen’s comp.)

Can’t purchase alcohol under the age of 21 (Utah, Alaska, all fine states but don’t try underaged drinking there!)

Can’t purchase or possess marijuana (ob disc: I do not but my lack of choosing to shouldn’t prevent others from doing so) at any age.