Salt Lake Tribune Condemns Adult Content Warning Label

Salt Lake Tribune Condemns Adult Content Warning Label

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board has condemned the state legislature’s proposed warning label for all adult content as “a cheap way out.”

The bill, HB243, requires a printed warning label on all physical media and a 15-second disclaimer for online content and would impose fines and other penalties if these conditions are not met. The Utah House of Representatives passed HB243 last week by a wide margin and it now sits before the Utah Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Because we cannot be bothered — or don’t know how — to provide our children with accurate, comprehensive sex education, the kind of enlightenment that would help future generations understand the difference between reality and fantasy, between fulfillment and victimization, between diversion and addiction, HB243 amounts to the state of Utah giving up and placing a ‘Bridge Out’ sign on the information superhighway,” the article reads.

The current language of the warning label reads: Exposing minors to pornography is known to the state of Utah to cause negative impacts to brain development, emotional development and the ability to maintain intimate relationships. Such exposure may lead to harmful and addictive sexual behavior, low self-esteem and the improper objectification of and sexual violence towards others, among numerous other harms.

“Maybe,” observes the Tribune’s editorial board. “Though one could also issue a similar warning about exposure to the Utah legislative process.”

The content label provides “no solid definition as to what we are being warned about,” notes the article, and offers "little guidance to either purveyor or customer as to what is legal and what is not.” The Editorial Board also notes the state’s legal definition of pornography is out-of-date.

According to Tribune’s editorial board, HB243 includes language that “amounts to a hunting license” by allowing anyone the power to “sue and collect damages from any website operator.”

The “last thing the Utah judiciary needs,” they observe, “is to be misused by the self-appointed morality police, some of whom will be sincere, others in it for the money or to take revenge on the online sex worker who wouldn’t give out her home address.”

Click here to read the complete editorial.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Strike 3 Holdings Sues Meta for Pirating Vixen Media Group Content to Train AI

Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings filed suit in federal court this week, accusing Facebook parent company Meta of copyright infringement and alleging that Meta has extensively pirated VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Pineapple Support, Streamate to Host 'Navigating Grief and Loss' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group to help performers cope with grief and loss.

Friday is Final AV Compliance Deadline in UK

Friday, July 25 marks U.K. media regulator Ofcom’s deadline for user-to-user services such as tube, cam and fan sites to implement its requisite “highly effective age assurance” measures for preventing minors from viewing adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Two Texas Bills Restricting Sex Toy Sales Fail to Pass

Two bills aimed at restricting sales of sex toys have failed to pass the Texas state legislature during its 2025 session.

NYC Adult Stores Petition for Rehearing in Zoning Law Case

A group of adult businesses on Tuesday petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to rehear a case involving a zoning law that could severely limit adult stores’ operations in New York City.

Ofcom Releases Transparency Reporting Guidelines

Ofcom, the U.K. media regulator, has made public its official guidance detailing how online service providers — including adult sites — will be required to publish annual transparency reports on their efforts to protect children from online harms.

New AV Rules Take Effect for Ireland-Based Sites

Ireland’s Online Safety Code came into force Monday, including a provision requiring adult sites headquartered in Ireland to implement age assurance measures beyond self-declaration.

XBIZ Amsterdam Calls on New Startups for 'Spotlight' Program

XBIZ is pleased to announce that its new “Startup Spotlight” programming will make its European premiere at XBIZ Amsterdam 2025, set to take place Sept. 2-5 at the Jakarta Hotel Amsterdam.

Texas Resumes AV Lawsuit Against Aylo Following SCOTUS Decision

A district court judge in Texas has unfrozen the state’s $1.6 million lawsuit against Aylo for allegedly failing to comply with age verification requirements, Bloomberg Law is reporting.

Show More