Several major disputes currently before the Supreme Court have the potential to significantly transform the lives of the nation’s teenagers. One such case involves Texas arguing for the constitutionality of its age verification law, which aims to protect minors from accessing pornography. Texas asserts that exposure to explicit material can have detrimental mental and physical effects on children.
Another case before the Supreme Court involves the constitutionality of a federal ban on the popular social media platform TikTok, which is widely used by young people. Additionally, the court recently reviewed Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, highlighting the ongoing legal battles with implications for America’s youth.
The Supreme Court is also considering the Food and Drug Administration’s efforts to remove vaping products from the market. With a significant percentage of high school students engaging in vaping, the FDA is concerned about the health risks associated with this trend.
These disputes come at a time when young people are increasingly disillusioned with Washington and the Supreme Court. A recent poll found that the approval rating of the Supreme Court among Americans aged 18-29 is at 44%, the lowest among all age groups.
Legal experts, such as Aaron Tang from the University of California, Davis, specializing in education law, suggest that the increasing number of cases directly impacting young people reflects the focus of state and local lawmakers on legislating with morality and youth in mind.
