KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION

‘Government telling my kids what to do?’: Gee and Ursula debate Virginia’s new social media law

May 17, 2025, 5:01 AM

social media law...

In this photo illustration, social media networking apps are displayed on a phone screen. Virginia recently passed a social media law to limit screen time. (Photo Illustration: Asanka Ratnayake via Getty Images)

(Photo Illustration: Asanka Ratnayake via Getty Images)

A law was passed in Virginia this week that regulates how much time certain users will be able to spend on social media, WTVR reported. According to the media outlet, anyone under 16 years old will have a default limit of one hour per day on social media, with parents having the ability to adjust the time up or down.

Gee Scott, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, saw the law as an invasion of privacy, while co-host of “Gee and Ursula,” Ursula Reutin, thought the new rule could improve mental health.

“Government telling my kids what to do?” Gee questioned. “Government regulating what goes on in your house?

To which Ursula responded, “Well, they do when it comes to driving cars, right?”

Gee combated Ursula’s response, saying driving cars is a rule of the road versus the government stepping into people’s homes.

Gee against Virginia’s social media law: ‘We’re not doing that’

“No, we’re not doing that, full stop,” Gee said. “Because if you open up that box, then what? Really, you’re gonna have the government tell you, ‘Hey, Mom, Dad, your 16, your 14, 15-year-old can only be on the phone this long.'”

However, Ursula said the law is aimed more toward the companies rather than the parents. She added that the move could foster better mental health among children.

“Anything that you could do to protect our kids a little bit longer and help preserve their childhood, and limit their exposure to social media,” she said. “I think social media is truly having such a negative impact on our youth today, from mental health, from how they feel.”

Listen to the full conversation below.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio. 

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