Social media’s threat to children includes dangerous terms of service

• Michael Bugeja is a distinguished professor of liberal arts and sciences at Iowa State University.

Long after risks became apparent 20 years ago — including screen addiction, loss of face-to-face communication, cyber stalking, bullying and harassment — lawmakers finally are trying to restrict social media accounts of underage users and monitor effects of these perilous platforms.

Lack of legislation has allowed tech CEOs to deflect deleterious effects, hire D.C. lobbyists and write service terms so obtuse that users simply ignore them and click “I agree,” the most pervasive lie told every day across Iowa.

As the Des Moines Register reported, the Iowa House has approved a bill (House File 2523), requiring children under age 18 to get parental approval to open social media accounts…