Lmao imagine Utah becoming the most mentally healthy region on earth, suicide rates plummeting, productivity up 300%, people spending time with parents and grandparents again? record sign ups in sports clubs, record birth rates etc.

Be careful what you wish for ;-)

If the state has total control over every aspect of their citizens' lives they can model the population into any perfect utopia they desire. I'd still not like to live in that world.

Isn't this the opposite though? They're not telling people how to live their lives. They're taking away the power Facebook has over many people's lives so people might enjoy their lives in more social and healthy ways again.

"any legislation restricting behavior actually frees people to do what they always wanted (the government knows best what that is) but just couldn't because of all these other possibilities misguiding them"

"there should be no laws against tobacco, alcohol, drug abuse, gambling because people can't possibly be misguided by powerful corporate interests for profit or otherwise"

That's not what I said. There is a balance to be found. I only objected to "this restriction actually makes everyone free (to do what I think they should)" being used as an argument. If enough people agree, sure, you can ban social media. The reasoning should be a cost benefit analysis though, not "my laws shall make you free".

Yes, balance is important. I guess if the law is passed then enough people agree...

They’re also taking away the support some marginalized people may get from social networks (eg LGBT, uncommon religions for the area) that their local community doesn’t provide/discriminates against/their parents hate.

Social networks, for all their faults, are not pure evil. They can be beneficial for some people.

Do you think one would have to be on a network with at least 5 million users to get this sort of support as opposed to a smaller one, perhaps specifically oriented towards this sort of stuff? The latter is as legal as before I think.

If you join the GaySupportForum, it’s really obvious why. That could be problematic or even dangerous for someone.

If you join Facebook, it doesn’t signal anything because everyone is on Facebook. Or Instagram. Or TikTok. Or any of the other called out platforms.

I said "perhaps". Just join a social network with less than 5m users without "gay" in its name then. This attitude of trying to help a monopoly and pretend it's good just baffles me.

And your argument is that you’re ok with the general harm these cause to most people for the marginal possible benefit for a very small minority.

Notwithstanding the fact that many so-called marginalized minorities are also terribly bullied online.

I’m not trying to advocate either way, just pointing out it’s not as clear cut as some people in these comments act like it is.

> Isn't this the opposite though? They're not telling people how to live their lives.

Is this not exactly them telling people how to live their lives? "Live offline."

Not offline, just not using social networks. Same way kids can drink juice, water and pop but not alcohol. Should kids be allowed to drink alcohol or smoke? Again, if I see this as a public health measure I think it makes sense.

> If the state has total control over every aspect of their citizens' lives they can model the population into any perfect utopia they desire.

That has never worked before. I don't think it'll work in the future.

Are you referring to China or USSR by chance? Hardly utopias.

It's not about every aspect of life but a few key norms. I see this predatory social media like gambling if not worse, and gambling is regulated in most places

I’m sure you’re writing all of this in a “yeah, that’ll teach em” voice, but this all sounds amazing. Please, let social media block everyone, become irrelevant, then bring back the old internet.

I expect if it were to happen there would be a very large outcry (in Utah at a minimum) and the law would be changed/repealed quickly.

It would be a VERY interesting natural experiment if that did happen. People would find ways back on, but not everyone would be willing to go through the hoops. What would that do in even a month or two?

I suspect it would improve things drastically in Utah. That’s what I’d bet on, anyway. I’m a libertarianish person, so I don’t love this legislation, but… I’m not gonna lie. It half makes me want to move to Utah.

While you may not like the current method of communication and congregation, you must understand _why_ we have the first amendment, right? Congregating together and discussing ideas of (nearly) any sort is an absolutely vital part of democracy and a free society

People (like the one above you) don't care about the first amendment as long as their favorite things aren't affected.

...and that's why the first amendment exists.

They're excited about the idea of those sites blocking users in general. It's not really a first amendment thing. That comment isn't focused on the broader context.

I’m sure someone else will cook up a new way to talk to people online after we’ve all decided the current one needs to go; nature hates a vacuum. The current manifestation is not helping anyone though.

Wouldn't web forums, usenet, etc all be considered social media under this bill?