Arkansas
Arkansas Judge Kills Social Media Age Verification Law, Says It Violates the First Amendment
A judge in Arkansas has shut down the state’s law requiring some social networks to verify the ages of those in the state to create an account and ensure that minors have parental permission. Judge Timothy L. Brooks ruled the law, dubbed the Social Media Safety Act, was too broad as to violate the First Amendment rights of internet users and was so vague it was unclear which social networks the law would cover.
“Arkansas takes a hatchet to adults’ and minors’ protected speech alike though the Constitution demands it use a scalpel,” the US District Court for the Western District of Arkansas wrote in an opinion issued Monday.
Lawmakers across the United States and abroad have sought to protect minors against the potential long-term harms posed by social media, and smartphone access writ large. Utah recently passed a law that requires app stores from Apple and Google to verify the ages of users before they can download apps and requires minors to have accounts connected to their parents. Meta was in favor of this law because it put the onus on other companies to verify users; it was opposed to Arkansas’ law. States and school districts across the country have also been implementing laws that prohibit students from accessing their phones during the school day to eliminate distractions and potentially combat bullying.
While social media has been linked to increased mental health risks in adolescents, many teens have reported benefits to using the services, such as finding like-minded communities where they feel belonging. Moreover, critics of age-verification laws say while there are risks to minors using social media, these types of laws infringe on everyone’s right to privacy—in states like Florida and Texas, where laws have passed requiring porn sites to verify the ages of users, major services including PornHub have chosen to shut down rather than make users hand over personally identifiable information. In an age when the White House is willing to retaliate against individuals over their free expression, the risks of requiring users to verify their identities are clear.
“Rather than targeting content that is harmful to minors, Act 689 [the Social Media Safety Act] simply impedes access to content writ large,” Brooks said.
There are effectively no federal privacy laws concerning internet platforms, with the recent collapse of 23andMe highlighting the problem. It was recently announced that as part of the DNA testing company’s bankruptcy, genetic data from customers could be sold off, potentially to be used against individuals.
Judge Brooks also noted the law was too vague, pointing out that the state’s attorney general believed Snapchat was exempt from the requirements, while the law’s co-sponsor thought it was covered.
“I respect the court’s decision, and we are evaluating our options,” Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement.
Social media companies have continued to implement tools to combat bullying, such as by allowing users to restrict others’ access to their content. During the Biden administration, the U.S. Surgeon General recommended social networks should display warning labels highlighting the potential harms for adolescents, and potentially redesign their apps to address problems like insecurity that can be caused by beauty filters and other tools.
Some who believe social media is harmful to adolescents argue that laws like age verification and smartphone bans during the school day are not addressing the actual problem. Teenagers will get around age checks, and if they cannot use their phone during the school day, they will just use it more after class. These laws do not address the root cause, they argue, which is the inherent design of social media apps.
JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – An overnight shooting left one person injured at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
Todd Clark, chief marketing and communications officer at Arkansas State University, said Sunday that calls came in after 12 a.m. April 26.
He said there was a gathering at Unity Park.
Shortly after, an email was sent notifying the Arkansas State University community of an “active shooter” incident.
One woman was confirmed with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the lower leg.
Additional reports indicated minor injuries, including scrapes and scratches, as the crowd dispersed.
K8 News was originally told that a second person had been shot.
Clark said there was “no active threat” and that the shooting was isolated to Unity Park.
He advised people to stay away from Unity Park on the Arkansas State University campus.
The shooting remains under investigation.
Arkansas State University is asking that anyone with information about the incident call 870-972-2093.
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Copyright 2026 KAIT. All rights reserved.
While he has plenty of room for improvement in the passing game, Green is an incredibly dangerous threat as a runner. He rushed for 2,405 yards and 35 touchdowns over five collegiate seasons (three at Boise State, two at Arkansas), excelling both in designed runs and out of structure as an elusive scrambler.
This athleticism and his physical profile led some to wonder whether Green’s future in the NFL would gravitate more toward receiver than quarterback. He’s commonly compared to former Ohio State quarterback and eventual NFL receiver Terrelle Pryor, whose attempt to stick as a signal-caller ended before he accepted a position change.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry quickly refuted such assumptions, telling reporters Saturday they will keep Green at quarterback.
Green’s selection crowds an already packed room in Cleveland, notorious home to a five-QB derby during training camp last summer. With Deshaun Watson returning from injury and on the final year of his deal, plus 2025 fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel also on the roster, the Browns will once again have options.
For a second straight summer, plenty of eyes will be on Browns camp and their quarterback competition. It’s welcoming a new contender; we’ll see where he lands by the end of August and whether it could force out someone else.
Arkansas
Gibler, Eaves Combine for Two-Hit Shutout as #24 Arkansas Clinches Series Win against Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Cole Gibler and Steele Eaves combined for a two-hit shutout with seven strikeouts as No. 24 Arkansas (29-15, 11-9 SEC) clinched its third SEC road weekend series of the season with a 6-0 win against Missouri (20-23, 3-17 SEC) Friday night at Taylor Stadium. With the series-clinching win, the Razorbacks secured their fourth consecutive weekend series win in Columbia, Mo., as well as their sixth consecutive weekend series win against the Tigers.
Arkansas will go for the sweep in the series finale, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, on SEC Network+ with Dan McLaughlin (play-by-play) and Dylan Kelly (analyst) on the call from Taylor Stadium. The Hogs, who have now won nine consecutive games in the series, last swept the Tigers in Columbia during the 2014 campaign.
Gibler, making his third career start on the mound, fired a career-long six shutout innings with five strikeouts to earn the win and record his first quality start. The Razorback left-hander, who hails from Blue Springs, Mo., limited the Tigers to just one hit and three walks as he lowered his season ERA to 2.91 in 43.1 innings and improved to 4-1 on the year.
Arkansas and Missouri exchanged zeroes for the first three innings before Camden Kozeal’s two-run homer with two outs in the top of the fourth. The Razorback shortstop’s 12th long ball of the season gave his team a 2-0 advantage.
The Hogs maintained their two-run cushion until the sixth inning, when Maika Niu’s RBI double and Zack Stewart’s pinch-hit two-RBI single extended the lead to 5-0. Reese Robinett, a native of Kennett, Mo., tacked on an RBI single in the top half of the eighth to grow Arkansas’ lead to six, which was more than enough for its pitching staff to protect.
Eaves worked three shutout frames with two strikeouts in relief of Gibler to secure his first career save and seal the Razorbacks’ 6-0 win, marking Arkansas’ fifth shutout of the season as well as its second combined two-hit shutout of the year. Hunter Dietz and Mark Brissey combined for a two-hit shutout in a 9-0 win against UT Arlington on Feb. 28.
Offensively, Kozeal (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) and Niu (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB, SB) were two of three Razorbacks to record multi-hit games in Friday night’s win. Ryder Helfrick also pitched in with a two-hit effort, going 2-for-5 in the series-clinching win.
Arkansas will turn to left-hander Colin Fisher (4-5, 4.11 ERA) tomorrow with the opportunity to finish off the sweep against Missouri at stake. The Tigers, meanwhile, will start right-hander JD Dohrmann (2-1, 4.37 ERA) on the mound.
For complete coverage of Arkansas baseball, follow the Hogs on Twitter (@RazorbackBSB), Instagram (@RazorbackBSB) and Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Baseball).
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