Social Media
Governments are relying more on social media influencers
More are using influencers as trusted community messengers for public information and education campaigns, a trend that started during the pandemic and is not going away.
Kansas sues social media app Snapchat for harming teenagers’ mental health and well-being
The lawsuit references the death of a teenage boy from Shawnee, who died in 2021of fentanyl poisoning after reportedly purchasing from a drug dealer on Snapchat.
Alabama schools superintendent sends letter about ‘inappropriate’ social media posts
Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey sent a letter to school superintendents stating inappropriate social posts will result in disciplinary action.
Here’s how NY plans to regulate kids’ use of social media
The state attorney general’s office released draft rules around age verification and prohibitions on showing algorithmic feeds to minors without parental permission.
Bluesky blocks access in Mississippi, citing free speech and privacy concerns over age verification law
Bluesky said on Friday that it made the decision after the U.S. Supreme Court declined for now to block a Mississippi state law that requires users of websites and other digital services to verify their age.
Attorneys general call on Meta to place privacy limits on new Instagram location feature
The app's new feature quickly faced backlash from privacy advocates who warn against sharing highly personal data with an intermediary like Meta.
Their childhoods are on display for millions. States want to protect them.
‘Kidfluencers’ are taking the internet by storm, with few rules for their parents.
Age verification needs better privacy protections, report says
New America’s Open Technology Institute called for the use of zero-knowledge proofs, which verify a user’s age without disclosing any personal information.
Kentucky school district enters social media consent decree after blocking critic
‘School choice evangelist’ had decried Pulaski Schools’ posts against Amendment 2.
Judge blocks Georgia’s new social media age verification law just before it was set to start
Senate Bill 351 would require social media companies to get a parent’s permission before they allowed a minor to create an account.
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Indiana Supreme Court considers Attorney General suits against TikTok
The Indiana Supreme Court listened to arguments about the appropriate jurisdiction for an Indiana case concerning TikTok.
Ohio lawmakers introduce competing proposal for online age verification
The latest offering, House bill 302, aims to share responsibility between apps and app stores.
Bill that would have banned Texas minors from social media misses key deadline
House Bill 186, approved by the lower chamber in May, never received a vote in the Senate.
Utah Department of Transportation’s ‘scrappy’ social media team wins national award
The agency tries to inform Utahns of things like road closures, construction, maintenance and other transportation projects in fun, relatable ways, one official says.
Texas lawmakers are poised to ban minors from social media
The Texas Legislature has already passed a bill requiring age verification to download apps and is seriously considering another to ban children from social media.
Why we fall for fake health information – and how it spreads faster than facts
COMMENTARY | If the health content you see on social media sounds too good to be true, it’s very likely false – but there are ways to check it out before sharing.
Alabama governor to weigh cellphone ban bill
Gov. Kay Ivey in her 2025 State of the State endorsed legislation to ban cellphones in schools, saying that social media is negatively impacting students.
How Maryland’s social media team responded to Baltimore bridge collapse
The Key Bridge collapsed a little over a year ago after a container ship collided with a supporting pier. Communications staff had the mammoth task of keeping the public informed and dispelling misinformation.
Colorado Senate votes to override Polis veto of social media regulation bill
The Colorado Senate voted to override a veto on a bill that would require the removal of users who sell drugs and firearms over social media.
Ohio judge permanently blocks social media age verification law
Gov. Mike DeWine is eager to appeal the decision, and state lawmakers are already working on alternatives.
