PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) – Children can access pornography with just one click.
Some South Dakota lawmakers say they are trying to solve that concern with House Bill 1053, a proposed law protecting children from inappropriate websites.
Rep. Bethany Soye (soy), R-Sioux Falls, is the bill’s sponsor.
She says pornography is a serious problem that is hurting kids.
“Websites are using tricky tactics to attract children,” Soye said.
Soye says studies show 58% of teens first see pornographic content by accident, and 80% have seen violent material online.
Holly Strand, a Pennington County Sheriff’s Office investigator, shared stories about young children’s internet experiences.
She said she’s seen kids as young as kindergarten talking about inappropriate content they’ve encountered
The bill would require websites to verify a user’s age before showing harmful content.
Proponents say 19 other states have already passed similar laws.
However, the bill faces opposition.
Critics such as the South Dakota ACLU’s Samantha Chapman argue it could infringe on First Amendment rights and privacy concerns.
Opponents worry about the effectiveness of age verification systems and potential data breaches.
Some also question whether the government should regulate internet content, suggesting parental controls and education might be more effective.
The measure passed the House State Affairs Committee on a party-line 11 to 2 vote. HB 1053 now heads to the House of Representatives.
