Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders promotes legislation tightening restrictions on social media
Sponsors introduced Senate bills 611 and 612 in the 95th General Assembly on Wednesday. SB611 amends the Social Media Safety Act of 2023, while 612 allows suing social media companies under certain circumstances.
Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
On Tuesday, a federal judge struck down the Social Media Safety Act of 2023 for its age-verification requirements, citing the First Amendment. SB611 amends that act by creating the ability to fine a social media company $10,000 for each day it allows a minor to access its services to view addictive or harmful material.
The revision to the act includes striking the age-verification requirement and requires parental controls and annual audits for social media platforms.
Federal judge strikes down Arkansas social media age verification law
SB612 forbids social media from creating an environment that encourages a user to purchase a controlled substance, develop an eating disorder, commit or attempt suicide or become addicted to social media. If they do, they can be sued by a parent or guardian for up to $10,000 per violation, plus attorney fees and damages.
The bill clarifies that it does not impact third-party content or content protected by the First Amendment or the Arkansas Constitution.
'Arkansas has led the nation on commonsense, conservative reforms to protect kids online and these additional protections continue that effort,' the governor said in announcing the legislation. 'Moms and dads whose kids have fallen victim to Big Tech deserve the right to take action against these abusive companies—and Arkansas law should protect kids so they aren't subjected to toxic material in the first place.'
Social media influencer is a growing career choice. Colleges have noticed
Sen. Tyler Dees (R-Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jon Eubanks (R-Paris) sponsor the legislation.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
16 minutes ago
- USA Today
Trump offers Putin, Zelensky contrasting approaches
President Donald Trump has offered his critics, the world and U.S. allies contrasting images on how America treats its friends and adversaries after failing to broker a ceasefire in Russia's unprovoked war to annex Ukraine. At the Alaska-based summit Russian President Vladimir Putin received a red-carpet welcome from the U.S. that included a B-2 bomber fly-by and a ride in the presidential limousine, nicknamed "The Beast" with video of him laughing with Trump. The two superpower leaders exchanged flatteries, with Putin saying the war wouldn't have started it Trump had been president in 2022. Andrei Gurulyov, a Russian parliament member and retired general, described it as a "breakthrough" moment that was played up heavily on Russian state television. Putin's foreign ministry said it marked an end to the foreign country's reported isolation. That showcase is in sharp contrast to a fiery exchange Trump and top administration officials had earlier this year with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when the foreign ally's leader was told in the Oval Office he was being disrespectful to the U.S. and risking World War III. Zelenskyy was teased by Trump and others for his attire and eventually booted from the White House. Republican lawmakers, such as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., suggested Ukraine's president should either resign, change his tune or "send somebody over that we can do business with." The administration went as far to pause intelligence sharing and weapons shipments to Ukraine after the incident, and while Trump has threatened to impose sharp economic penalties on Russian if an agreement to end the war wasn't reached, he suspended those sanctions after the Alaska sit-down with Putin. Now, Trump is poised to welcome Zelenskyy back to Washington on August 18 to discuss a peace agreement. Republican praise Trump's strength, Dems fret 'it was just theater' After being hyped by the administration and its congressional allies as an opportunity to end the more than three-year conflict in region, Trump's dealmaking skills are being tested in an international negotiation that could backfire on the country and globe. "The goal is always peace," the White House said in an Aug. 15 post on X, amid the talks. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, said in an Aug. 16 post on X that Trump "stood firm in defense of U.S. interests," and that the summit marks a critical first step to a "durable and stable peace that protects Ukraine's territorial and economic sovereignty." But Democrats and other detractors warn that the summit has largely benefited Putin, who is facing war crime charges from the International Criminal Court and seeking legitimacy on the global stage after starting a war that has resulted in more than 1.4 million casualties, according to studies. "Our fear is that the Trump-Putin meeting wasn't diplomacy—it was just theater," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said in a post on X ahead of the talks. Trump seeks reset in pursuit of peace as Europe worries Trump returned to Washington on Aug. 16 carrying plenty of compliments from Putin, who said the war wouldn't have started if Joe Biden hadn't been in charge back in 2022. But without a deal the administration appears to be skipping cease-fire discussions altogether and pivoting quickly to reset its public relationship with Zelenskyy, who will be returning to the Oval Office on Aug. 18 for a talk that remains inconclusive to most observers. Trump began to tip-toe away from Putin and toward Zelenskyy in late April after Russia bombarded Kyiv with missiles. The president, however, is also reportedly considering land swaps including Ukraine areas not currently occupied by the Russians, according to the New York Times, something U.S. allies have opposed in the past. Zelenskyy said in an Aug. 16 post on X that he spoke with Trump and European leaders, adding that the "killings must stop" but that the battling must pause first before a larger peace agreement can be made. "The positions are clear," he said. "A real peace must be achieved, one that will be lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions." In a joint statement, European leaders echoed that sentiment and expressed support for a Putin-Zelenskyy summit. "I'm disgusted that Donald Trump met with Putin on American soil and did so with no representatives from Ukraine," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, a retired Army helicopter pilot, said in an Aug. 16 post on X. "Trump and his inflated ego may not realize it, but it's clear that Putin is not engaging in good faith to end this war."
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Schumer to Trump: No Nobel Peace Prize for ‘selling out Ukraine'
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tore into President Trump early Saturday after his high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska ended without a deal, accusing the president of 'selling out' Ukraine. 'Looks like once again Trump is selling out Ukraine and bowing down to dictator Putin,' he wrote on social media platform X. 'No Nobel Peace Prize for that.' His critique comes days after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton quipped that she would nominate Trump for the coveted prize if he successfully squeezed a ceasefire agreement out of the Russian leader. Trump and Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday for a roughly three-hour discussion. While details of the conversation have not been released, the president touted the meeting as 'productive' and signaled that while progress was made, a deal was not yet on the table. 'We didn't get there, but we have a good chance,' he told reporters following the summit, but did not take questions. The president later briefed NATO and European leaders — who responded by doubling down on their support for Ukraine — on the meeting. Schumer, in separate comments late Friday, accused Trump of rolling out the red carpet for Putin, who he called an 'authoritarian thug.' 'Instead of standing with Ukraine and our allies, Trump stood shoulder to shoulder with an autocrat that has terrorized the Ukrainian people and the globe for years,' he wrote on X. 'While we wait for critical details of what was discussed — on first take it appears Trump handed Putin legitimacy, a global stage, zero accountability, and got nothing in return.' 'Our fear is that this wasn't diplomacy — it was just theater,' the New York Democrat added. Trump defended the outcome of the summit in an interview with Fox News's Sean Hannity late Friday, saying it is up to Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to come to an agreement. Trump and Zelensky are expected to meet on Monday at the Oval Office. Clinton earlier this week said she would support Trump's quest for a Nobel Peace Prize if he is able to negotiate an end to the more than three-year war that repudiates the Kremlin's claims to Ukrainian territory. The president later expressed gratitude for his former opponent's remarks. Zelensky has pushed back on Trump's suggestion that any truce would likely require a land swap of territories Russia has taken over since it's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. 'We will never leave the Donbas,' the Ukrainian leader told reporters on Tuesday.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Judge blocks Trump FTC's ‘retaliation' against liberal media watchdog
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's investigation of a liberal advocacy group known for its campaigns against Rupert Murdoch's Fox News and Elon Musk's X. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan cited evidence that the investigation, which was opened by the Federal Trade Commission last spring, was an act of retaliation against the advocacy group, Media Matters for America. The judge granted a preliminary injunction because, she wrote, 'Media Matters is likely to succeed in its First Amendment retaliation claim, which is all it needs at this stage.' Media Matters has been a thorn in the side of Musk and his X social network for years. The group has published numerous reports about the prevalence of violent and hateful posts on X, leading Musk to call them an 'evil propaganda machine' hellbent on harming his business by turning off advertisers. Musk sued Media Matters in response; the group has countersued, and some Republican elected officials have backed Musk. The overarching charge is that liberal activists have colluded with advertisers to hurt conservative platforms and chill speech. Some of the advertisers Musk has sued have fought back, arguing that he has resorted to legal and political maneuvers 'to win back the business X lost in the free market when it disrupted its own business and alienated many of its customers.' With President Trump back in power, Musk and other Media Matters opponents have felt emboldened. Media Matters alleged 'retribution' when the FTC said it was probing possible collusion. Media Matters filed suit against the FTC seeking legal relief, which is what Sooknanan delivered on Friday, though the court battle is likely to continue. An FTC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the court order. Media Matters, which has been seriously hampered by Musk and company, said the injunction is a symbol of effective resistance to the Trump administration. 'The court's ruling demonstrates the importance of fighting over folding, which far too many are doing when confronted with intimidation from the Trump administration,' Media Matters president Angelo Carusone said in a statement. 'This case is not just about the campaign to punish and silence Media Matters, however,' he said. 'It is a critical test for whether the courts will allow any administration — from any political party — to bully media and non-profit organizations through illegal abuses of power.'
