On Tuesday, the state of Utah announced it is suing TikTok as it claims the social media platform "baits children into addictive and unhealthy use." Gov. Spencer Cox said at a news conference the platform promotes children to stay online for hours at a time. Recent research shows adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety. .
On Wednesday, child care providers and families will gather at the Utah State Capitol to participate in a stroller rally to advocate for critical investment in the child care system. Federal funds intended to keep child care services afloat during the pandemic as part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan expired last month. Estimates from The Century Foundation suggest more than more than 35,000 Utah children will lose access to child care, and nearly 670 child care programs will be forced to close their doors in the state as a result. .
A new report focuses on "girl power" in Indiana - with an analysis of how young girls are faring in the state, and recommendations for improving their lives. Using Kids Count data, the Girl Coalition of Indiana found girls under 18 are experiencing trauma and mental-health concerns at rates higher than boys - from bullying and depression, to dating violence and a lack of emotional support. In one survey, eight in 10 girls said neighbors "don t notice" or encourage them when they do a good job. .
A recent ruling from the Washington state Supreme Court lowers the barriers for bringing some childhood sexual abuse cases to court. Justices unanimously ruled that the three-year statute of limitation for these cases applies from the date of discovery of each element of the case. Seattle-based attorney Nate Roberts of the Connelly Law Offices said that, for instance, if someone in their mid-twenties suffers psychologically because of childhood abuse, they have three years to file a claim against their alleged abuser. .
Car dealers regularly advertise cars with unrepaired safety recall defects in California, even though it is illegal for dealers to sell or even offer for sale vehicles that do not comply with one of the hundreds of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. For example, a recent check of CarMax.com revealed a 2020 Lincoln Aviator for sale; a car under recall for intermittent failures of the backup camera which has no permanent fix. Janette Fennell, president of the nonprofit advocacy group KidsandCars.org, is calling on the Department of Motor Vehicles, which licenses car dealers, to crack down. .