Utah became the first in the country this Thursday prevent minors from creating social media accounts without the prior consent of their parents or guardians.

The two laws signed this Thursday by the Republican governor of the territory Spencer Cox, They also impose restrictions on the use of these platforms by minors, such as digital curfew this prevents users from accessing their accounts from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. unless an adult authorizes it, reports The Hill.

The rules will come into effect only after March 2024 but the governor assured that he will use this time to work with social networks to clarify the details of its implementation, the publication adds.

“Utah is leading the way in getting social media companies to Be accountable “And we are not going to relax anytime soon,” Cox tweeted, announcing the signing of the measures.

The Second Law prohibits these companies from using “designs or features” that could cause addiction among minors. It also makes it easier for people to report on these companies, Cox said.

Supporters of the law explained in an interview with NBC that their motivation for taking these measures lies in the problems they believe social media is causing in children’s mental health.

In 2016, half of 12-year-olds had an account on at least one social network, according to a survey by Common Sense Media in the US, and for minors aged 8 to 12, that figure dropped to one in four. .