Opinion: Could social media regulation stifle our future?

Utah's ‘Social Media Regulation Act’ serves as a cautionary tale of government overreach with severe trade-offs. While the road to online safety is paved with good intentions, as we all want the best for minors (and everyone), we must evaluate policies by their real-world results. — Dreamstime/TNS

This is the season of controversial big-government actions by Republicans and Democrats. They too often want to direct people’s actions toward how politicians see fit. While these range from policies dealing with industrial support, climate change, and labour markets, one concern is regulating social media.

From the Supreme Court’s scrutiny of Texas and Florida's social media laws to Utah and other states unveiling social media rules for the digital world, parental rights and capitalism are at a pivotal moment. The policy choices we are making now on these issues will impact the brightest spot in the American economy.