- Government officials from Utah and Australia shared a global commitment to protect kids from digital danger.
- Recent Utah trade mission to Australia prompted unexpected collaboration on protecting youth from social media risks.
- Several Utah officials — including Gov. Spencer Cox — support “bell-to-bell” cell phone restrictions in K-12 schools.
Utah
Utah and Australian lawmakers find unexpected common ground
SYDNEY, Australia — At first glance, a team of visiting Utah lawmakers and their Australian hosts would not appear to share much in common.
They have different forms of government — one, a republic; the other, a constitutional monarchy. Different continents. Different hemispheres. And vastly different time zones.
But the two geographically distant groups discovered they share a global concern: They are fiercely concerned about kids and digital safety.
And both groups are proponents of enhanced “bell-to-bell” cellphone use rules in schools.
Last week, a team of Utah Republican lawmakers were in Sydney as part of a broad trade mission to Australia and New Zealand organized by World Trade Center Utah.
The intent of the trade mission was to foster shared business, innovation and educational opportunities between the Beehive State and the Oceania nations.
The lawmakers participating in the trade mission networked with local representatives from mining, aerospace, tech and other industries to develop business opportunities in Utah.
But, unexpectedly, conversations between Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and the Utah lawmakers with several Australian government officials also focused on protecting kids online.
The Utahns quickly discovered that their Down Under hosts share their concern for digital safety for youth.
“One of the things that Australia has done very well is tackle the problem of social media,” Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, told the Deseret News.
“We looked at what they’ve done, and then compared notes to what Utah’s done. We’ve all stepped forward in a big way to push back on social media.”
Cox and Adams were joined in the digital safety discussions by Sens. Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, Chris Wilson, R-Logan, and Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, and Reps. Karen Peterson, R-Clinton, and Stephen Whyte, R-Mapleton.
The Australian officials included the Hon. Greg Piper, the Hon. Ben Franklin and the Hon. Anika Wells.
“This is a critical time in our history,” said Adams. “Social media is having a measurable impact on youth mental health. Utah and Australia may be oceans apart, but our values are aligned. We are standing up for kids and ensuring technology serves our children and our communities, not the other way around.”
Utah: Leading out with social media safety
The Beehive State’s been at the forefront of social media initiatives to protect kids from digital exploitation.
The Utah Social Media Regulation Act, for example, keeps minors from using social media at restricted hours. It also requires Utah minors to obtain parental consent to have social media accounts and gives parents the ability to see all posts and messages on their children’s accounts.
The law also prevents social media companies from collecting minors’ data and targeting minors’ accounts for advertising.
Cox has emphasized the uniqueness of Utah’s digital safety initiatives.
“These are first of their kind bills in the United States,” he said in 2023. “And that’s huge that Utah is leading out on this effort. We have lots of states that are interested and I know we’re all having conversations with other governors, other legislators and other states. I suspect that you will see lots of bills like these moving forward.”
Utah also requires social media companies to enable maximum default privacy settings on Utah children’s accounts and to verify the ages of their users and provide supervisory tools for a parent or guardian.
Meanwhile, the Utah Legislature has funded a campaign to educate parents and teens about the potential dangers of social media at SocialHarms.utah.gov.
Australia’s efforts to protect kids from digital danger
Australia, meanwhile, has restricted access to social media for those under 16.
During last week’s trade mission, Utah and Australia officials talked about developing shared principles and “a framework that promotes responsible innovation, holds social media platforms accountable and strengthens protections for minors amid the growing challenges of the digital world,” according to a Utah Senate communications report.
The joint discussions, the report added, reflect shared commitments to addressing the harms of social media and excessive mobile phone use among K–12 students.
“Social media giants cannot put profits over kids’ safety,” said Cullimore. “These platforms must be accountable for manipulative, harmful design and protect user data.
Safeguarding minors is a global challenge that demands a unified approach.
“Utah has led with policies on age verification and limits on addictive design features. Australia’s approach serves as a model, and by learning from one another, we can accelerate meaningful progress, ensuring young people are empowered, not endangered, by the digital world.”
The Utah and Australian lawmakers and leaders identified several key areas of collaboration:
- Responsible mobile phone use in schools to reduce distractions and improve learning outcomes.
- Accountability for social media companies through stronger age verification, privacy and data protection for minors.
- Support for ethical education technology that prioritizes well-being.
- Public awareness campaigns promoting healthy digital habits for youth and families.
“Parents everywhere are asking for help,” said Peterson. “When we set guardrails, like limiting devices in schools and holding platforms accountable, we empower children to focus, learn and thrive. Partnering globally helps all of us do better for our kids.”
The Senate report noted that 57% of teen girls in the United States say they feel persistently sad or hopeless. Meanwhile 88% of Utah parents believe social media negatively impacts children and youth.
“The data is clear, social media is harming our kids,” said Wilson. “Protecting children isn’t just a priority; it’s our responsibility. We are not just changing laws, we are shaping a generation, uniting communities and nations around a shared mission to help children grow up healthier, stronger and more connected to what truly matters.”
Added Whyte: “Our goal is to ensure every child, everywhere, can learn, create and connect safely and confidently. Utah’s actions aim to restore balance and help families reclaim control over their digital lives.”
Adams noted that his discussions with his Australian hosts was a reminder that keeping kids safe in the digital realm is a global, nonpartisan concern and responsibility.
“It’s about concerned parents and people who love their kids — and are trying to help them get through life…Social media has done a lot of great things, but we need to protect our kids.”
Is a more aggressive policy prohibiting cellphones in Utah schools in the works?
Cox has been a vocal proponent for restricting cellphones in Utah’s K-12 public school “from bell to bell.”
His beliefs are echoed Down Under
All six states in Australia have reportedly enacted bans on cellphones during school hours, requiring phones to be switched off and “Away for the day.”
The results, reported Wilson, have been positive. Other nations have reached out to Australia in hopes of implementing their own cellphone policies in school
Similar “bell-to-bell” cellphone restrictions at Utah schools may be in the future.
Earlier this year, Utah lawmakers passed the so-called “No cellphones in K-12 schools” bill, prohibiting students in the state’s public schools from using their phones when they are in class.
The new law includes a local caveat — individual schools or districts can opt for a different policy.
Senate Bill 178 is now the state’s “default” practice. Previously, K-12 students were allowed to use cellphones whenever or wherever they wanted unless their district had their own policy in place.
But Sandall believes Utah kids would be well-served by having an enhanced “bell-to-bell” cellphone prohibition that goes beyond simply restricting devices during class time.
“We might need to look at doing that — and having our kids get to school and interacting with each other,” he said.
Some argue a child needs a cellphone in school in case of emergencies.
But Sandall counters that for generations, emergencies at Utah schools were effectively handled by school leaders.
“I think we can go back to that and feel comfortable that we can do that.”
Peterson believes Utah parents are becoming increasingly aware and supportive of social media and phone policies designed to benefit and protect their children.
“The No. 1 thing I hear from parents right now related to schools is how much time they’re spending on a device — whether it’s their own device or it’s a device at the school,” she said.
Utah
Gov. Cox calls Utah Legislature into special session on redistricting, to repeal collective bargaining ban
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Gov. Spencer Cox has called the Utah Legislature into a special session to address redistricting and election-related issues, and repeal Utah’s collective bargaining ban after it qualified for a vote on the 2026 ballot.
The call was anticipated, but beyond election deadlines, the agenda items signal that lawmakers will address the appellate process when they gather on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. The GOP-controlled legislature is currently anticipating embarking on an appeals process after a Third District judge struck down a redistricted map drawn by lawmakers and put in place one crafted by an expert for anti-gerrymandering groups.
Lawmakers will address “amendments to court rules related to appeals by government officers or governmental entities and appeals of election, voting, and redistricting cases; and clarify that the Utah Supreme Court has exclusive and original appellate jurisdiction over election, voting, and redistricting cases, to address the appeals process for a post-judgment motion on attorney fees in such cases, and address statutory inconsistencies,” according to the Governor’s call.
As reported exclusively by ABC4, lawmakers will push back filing deadlines and consider a joint resolution about the “constitutional authority” of the courts. Utah’s GOP leaders have been highly critical of Judge Dianna Gibson since the ruling in late August, some even suggesting impeachment.
Repeal of HB267 after successful signature gathering
The repeal of the anti-collective bargaining ban, known by its bill name H.B. 267, comes after months of speculation that a repeal was in the works after public labor unions gathered more than enough signatures at lightning speed for a referendum to put the question to voters in 2026.
The coalition labor groups, called Protect Utah Workers, supported the repeal in a statement after the call was made public.
“The expected repeal belongs to the Utahns who stood up and signed the referendum,” the coalition said. “More than 320,000 people who signed the petition sent a clear message that public workers deserve a voice on the job. The coalition thanks legislative leadership for respecting the will of the people. This anticipated repeal preserves the rights of firefighters, police, nurses, public educators, transportation workers, airport staff, and all other critical public workers who improve the lives of Utahns every day,” said a spokesperson for the group.
Here is the complete list of agenda items for Tuesday’s special session:
- to modify election provisions relating to qualifying for placement on a primary election ballot, including changing the declaration of candidacy filing period for congressional office;
- to consider a joint resolution of the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding constitutional authority, including in redistricting, and the redistricting process;
- to consider amendments to court rules related to appeals by government officers or governmental entities and appeals of election, voting, and redistricting cases;
- to clarify that the Utah Supreme Court has exclusive and original appellate jurisdiction over election, voting, and redistricting cases, to address the appeals process for a post- judgment motion on attorney fees in such cases, and to address statutory inconsistencies regarding the appellate jurisdiction of the Utah Supreme Court and Utah Court of Appeals; and
- to repeal H.B. 267, Public Sector Labor Union Amendments, enacted in the 2025
General Session.
Oklahoma City has dominated the NBA. They hope to continue to do so on Sunday against the Utah Jazz, the second time the Thunder have played in Salt Lake City this season. In the first meeting, OKC overcame a red-hot shooting night to eventually blow out the Jazz after Utah put themselves in a great position following the opening frame.
In that game, the Thunder were short handed, much like they will be in this contest. So far this season, Oklahoma City has missed multiple games from All-NBA swingman Jalen Williams, Rising Star big man Chet Holmgren, Sharpshooter Isaiah Joe, Top Bench Bucket Getter Aaron Wiggins, Defensive-Aces Alex Caruso and Lu Dort, veteran Kenrich Williams and starting big man Isaiah Hartenstein.
For this Sunday affair, the Oklahoma City Thunder will see their superstar, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, miss his first game of the season with elbow bursitis. Joining him in street clothes will be Joe, Caruso, Dort and Hartenstein.
This will make Mark Daigneault’s job a bit trickier but the OKC Thunder are still favored to win this road contest. Here is what to watch for tonight.
What to Watch For
Oklahoma City is having to navigate its first game of the season without superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. To take an automatic 30 points out of the lineup will be hard to replace; he has been the lone constant in this season for the short-handed Bricktown Ballers. This will take Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren stepping up in a big way in the scoring department to replace that production.
The big question remains the Thunder’s depth, Oklahoma City will have to shuffle their rotation and likely include lineups without any of Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams or Holmgren on the court. How will OKC handle that outcome on the offensive end?
This game will likely come down to who performs the best shooting from distance, the great equalizer in basketball and if either team is red-hot it can help mask deficiencies for both clubs.
Game Information
- Date: Dec. 07
- Matchup: OKC Thunder (22-1) vs. Utah Jazz (8-14)
- Time: 07:00 PM CT
- Location: Delta Center –– Salt Lake City, UT
- TV: Fanduel Sports OK
- Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM)
The Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping to cap off a 3-0 week with a win tonight over the Utah Jazz. The Thunder then get to enjoy two more days off before opening up the knockout round of the NBA Cup tournament on Dec. 10 against the Phoenix Suns. That game holds the right for the winner to advance to Vegas and continue their pursuit of the cup championship and cash prize at the end. Oklahoma City sits 22-1, two games shy of the Warriors’ 24-1 start way back in 2015-16.
Stay tuned to Thunder on SI for complete coverage of this Oklahoma City Thunder season as the Bricktown Ballers continue to make history this season.
CORVALLIS — Never quite able to pull far enough away for comfort despite a 22-point lead in the first half Saturday, Oregon State men’s basketball beat Southern Utah 81-70 at Gill Coliseum.
The Beavers (5-5) were led by Dez White with 20 points and Johan Munch with 16.
The Thunderbirds (4-7) were the worst team OSU has faced this season in terms of NET ranking at No. 343.
“That’s as good as we’ve seen them play on tape this year,” OSU coach Wayne Tinkle said of Southern Utah. “They did a lot of really good things, played their tails off, caused us some frustration. We did a lot of really good things in spurts, but it wasn’t as good of a 40-minute effort as we need.”
The win was Oregon State’s second straight, coming on the heels of a five-game losing streak.
White was red-hot from the start, hitting his first three attempts to give OSU a 13-6 lead. He had 16 points in the first half alone.
Noah Amenhauser came in at center and forced his will, scoring two straight baskets to make it 17-6 Beavers.
Turnovers and poor transition defense hurt OSU as the first half progressed, though, and Southern Utah rattled off a 6-0 run to cut the OSU lead to 20-16.
“We didn’t keep the ball in front of us,” Tinkle said. “They got downhill, got to the paint at will. In our zone, we didn’t have enough communication or urgency to match. And when we don’t communicate and see our area and the ball, we have breakdowns. They still got to the rim against zone a couple of times and we lost shooters.”
But as the Beavers picked up the pace, they blew the game wide open.
Ja’Quavis Williford — playing his third game since returning from injury — hit two quick buckets to make it 25-16 Beavers. OSU would extend that to 45-23 at one point, fueled by transition play and White’s confident scoring at all three levels.
OSU is dealing with both injuries and illness for key players: Yaak Yaak is still reconditioning after being out for the entire Paradise Jam tournament; Matija Samar is close to being back from a sprained MCL, and the Beavers are hoping to have him next week; and Keziah Ekissi is recovering from an illness that has kept him sidelined.
The Thunderbirds finished the half strong, going on a 7-0 run to cut it to 45-30 at the break.
While OSU came out in the second half sluggish in the early going, Munch powered to the basket on three straight possessions to get the lead up to 55-38 with 13:45 to go.
OSU kept the lead around 12-14 as the second half rolled along, but Tinkle’s frustration was evident throughout the game — primarily in response to defensive breakdowns leading to easy baskets for the Thunderbirds.
OSU led 65-51 at the 9:40 mark. Southern Utah got as close as 68-59 with just under seven minutes to go.
The Beavers picked up the defensive effort down the stretch, including a Munch block. OSU was able to pull out a double-digit victory in the end, but late turnovers and a lack of urgency on offense from the Beavers almost made it interesting as Southern Utah hit its open outside shots.
“We are a long ways off,” Tinkle said. “Defensively, we play stretches of really good defense, but we’ve got to do a good job for 40. Offensively, I think we’re getting more comfortable these last couple games in understanding how important it is to get turns of the ball and not go 1-on-1.
“When we go 1-on-1, that’s when we turn it over, take bad shots, and shoot a poor percentage. And we carry that frustration over to the defensive end.”
Next game: Oregon State (5-5) vs. Montana State (4-5)
- When: Saturday, Dec. 13
- Time: 2:00 pm PT
- Where: Gill Coliseum, Corvallis
- Stream: ESPN+
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