Every year, Utah’s most difficult issues emerge during the 45-day legislative session. We examine the dangers of political controversy, especially social media.
Utah State Board of Education Commissioner Natalie Klein A high school female basketball player is under intense pressure to resign over social media posts questioning her gender. Although she apologized, numerous state and local officials, including the school board, condemned her actions, and many called for her resignation. At the time of column’s deadline, Congress was still considering a formal response. Regardless of the actions taken, how will this disagreement shape the politics of social media?
Pignanelli: “Klein did something really unusual, she pissed everyone off. ” — Former Utah Governor Gary Herbert, Hinckley Report
I am a strong supporter of the Utah Way, a creed that emphasizes collaboration, mutual respect, and a dedication to quality. But the quieter aspects of this doctrine include intolerance of unethical behavior, which imposes high standards of conduct on officials.
Social media is passionately attacked for harming children and adolescents. Federal and state lawmakers are focusing on blistering attacks on technology companies in an effort to stop cyberbullying and predatory behavior. But this was not a student-on-student attack or the criminal act of a pervert. Klein was a well-known public servant who had an obsession with teenage minors for the purpose of attracting negative attention.
Regardless of Klein’s political future, her actions changed policy deliberations. We now have a dire warning that some powerful Utahns are using social media to harm vulnerable people. A clear and strong cultural response to this behavior by communities and political leaders is the best antidote to preventing future incidents. Adherence to the Utah Way requires such a response.
webb: Klein’s episode represents the worst of social media. In the good old days, rude people could say rude things about others, but few people knew about it. Today, the loud megaphone of social media allows the entire world to see cruel and inhumane posts. And, just as bad, victims see nasty comments added by a bunch of mean people using fake names, compounding the hurt and injustice.
Proper use of social media allows for healthy connections between family, friends, and people of goodwill. But social media also provides a massive forum for uncouth and uncouth people to spew lies and hate.
Before social media, we simply avoided such unpleasant people. Today it is almost impossible to do that. Reading the comments after a social media post or news article is like walking into a putrid swamp full of mutated creepy creatures. Just walk away.
So Klein should be ashamed and resign. Congress should see if she does or she will be impeached. All the cowards who keep commenting should feel disgusted with themselves as well.
On the other hand, several members (senators) mike mckellSen. kirk cultimoreCongressman. Jordan Teuscher and a member of parliament. Jay Cobb) announced new legislation to regulate the influence of social media on children and teens. This includes ensuring the platform is safe with an age verification process and not selling the data of minors. Another bill would address algorithms targeting children. Will these pass?
Pignanelli: As evidenced by recent Congressional hearings, there is bipartisan and multi-layered support for this bill in Utah and across the country. But to circumvent the First Amendment and privacy rights, these laws end up in the courts. Congress needs to act now to protect children and businesses from a patchwork of state laws. Otherwise, the beneficiaries of these bills are lawyers who spend years litigating cases.
webb: My wife and I are lucky that we didn’t have to raise our children in the age of social media. It is very difficult to eliminate the evils of social media while maintaining free speech and the positive aspects of social media. The first line of defense is for parents to take responsibility, but they need help. Congress should hold social media companies accountable. But as technology evolves, more needs to be done, especially at the federal level.
Used by student athletes at public universities Name, Image, Likeness, or Agreement with NIL To receive financial compensation. Lawmakers are considering ways to control those approvals while keeping the agreements out of public scrutiny. What kind of politics does this have?
Pignanelli: Few on Capitol Hill would accept lucrative sponsorship deals for college athletes. However, the Supreme Court stated: Policy deliberation means whether this is a private contract or whether there is public interest. These students compete in taxpayer-funded facilities that bear the name of state-owned institutions. But lawmakers are balking at regulations that could prevent college recruiters from retaining the most talented athletes. The line where these contracts end and the relationship with the university begins is blurry.
webb:College athletes should be compensated. But a “Wild West” NIL would destroy college athletics as we know it, concentrating top athletes at a few elite schools. So you have to control it, and that takes time. The trick is to avoid state regulations that put Utah schools at a disadvantage and have athletes attend other schools. Sensible NIL regulations will ultimately need to be imposed on a national scale.
Republican LaVar Webb is a former journalist, semi-retired small farmer and political consultant. Email: [email protected]. Frank Pignanelli is a Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist, and political consultant who served as a Democrat in the Utah State Assembly. His public relations firm represents media interests and social media companies. Email: [email protected].