All tagged Law

Monkey Business: The Scopes Trial of 1925

The 1920s marked a period of great social and technological change within American culture. Following the end of World War I and decades of industrialization, the country experienced an economic boom and rapid industrialization. Innovations such as the radio and automobiles flooded the market, as factories shifted towards mass production. Due to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, women were now allowed to vote and take a greater role in the political scene. America was quickly becoming a center of opportunity as immigration rates increased substantially, leading to urbanization in big cities. On the other hand, tensions were rising in rural areas, often populated by religious fundamentalists. They saw the changes occurring in large cities as a sign of America’s moral decline (Greenburg, 1983). What was most alarming to them, however, was the topic of evolution which directly contradicted the idea that human beings were created by God. Evangelical leaders pushed for legislation that would outlaw the teaching of evolution in schools. This moral and societal divide would come to a head in the small town of Dayton, Tennessee in 1925. The Scopes Trial, often referred to as the Scopes Monkey Trial, was a symbol of the clash between urban secularism and rural traditionalism within American society in the early 20th century. 

The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act and Age Verification

In an era of political polarization, a group of senators has joined forces in an effort to protect children online. As technology continues to advance and the digital world becomes increasingly pervasive in our lives, protecting our youngest users has become a priority for lawmakers. In response to increasing concerns over the influence social media has on children, four senators have proposed the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act of 2023. If this bill is passed, children under the age of 13 would be prohibited from using social media platforms unless their guardian provides consent. However, the efficacy of age verification is still a significant problem. The efficacy of age verification, or lack thereof, leads to questions from the opposition over the bill’s ability to protect our younger users from the dangers of social media.