Over the past several years, concerns have grown about how social media platforms affect children and teens, particularly with respect to mental health, safety, and excessive use. In response, the Office of the Attorney General, working in coordination with the Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection and under the leadership of Governor Spencer Cox, reviewed evidence related to how certain platforms are designed, marketed, and operated, and whether those practices comply with state consumer protection laws. 

Utah has brought lawsuits forward against three social media platforms.  

The lawsuits focus on alleged unconscionable design features and business practices that may encourage prolonged and compulsive use by minors, misrepresent the level of safety provided to parents and young users, or fail to adequately protect children from harm. Utah’s position is that companies that knowingly allow or profit from children using their platforms have a legal obligation to be truthful about risks and to implement reasonable safeguards. 

These actions reflect Utah’s responsibility to enforce existing consumer protection laws in digital environments. The same legal standards that apply to products and services offered offline also apply online. When platforms mislead consumers, fail to protect minors, or create features that exploit known vulnerabilities of young users, the state has authority to pursue enforcement. 

These lawsuits seek to place reasonable restrictions that ensure minors are not harmed by these companies that have prioritized profits over their health and wellbeing. Instead, they address specific conduct and aim to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and compliance with the law especially for children who use the platforms. These cases represent Utah’s effort to respond to emerging digital risks through established legal frameworks, while prioritizing the protection of children and families.