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 The Editorial Board also notes the state’s legal definition of pornography is out-of-date.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

Arcom to Expand AV Enforcement to Smaller Adult Sites

The president of French media regulator Arcom revealed on Thursday that the agency plans to escalate its enforcement of age verification rules to include smaller adult sites, starting in late 2025 or early 2026.

AEBN Publishes Report on MILF, Cougar Trends

AEBN has published a report on MILF and Cougar categories from its straight theaters.

Pornhub to Shut Down Access in Arizona Over Age Verification

Aylo will geoblock Pornhub across Arizona starting Sept. 26, when the state’s age verification law, HB 2112, goes into effect.

Flirtback Launches Zcash Crypto Payment Solution

Creator platform Flirtback has launched its Zcash (ZEC) crypto payment solution.

Vixen Media Group Appoints Samuel Spencer as President, COO

Vixen Media Group (VMG) has named industry veteran Samuel Spencer as its new president and chief operating officer.

French Telecoms Mogul Ignites AV Firestorm With Free VPN, Sarcastic Tweet

French billionaire Xavier Niel, founder of telecommunications giant Iliad, sparked a heated debate this week when he appeared to admit that the company's Free Mobile wireless carrier integrated no-cost VPN into its service specifically to circumvent age verification restrictions on adult content.

UPDATED: Michigan Legislators Propose Online Porn Ban

Michigan lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make it illegal to distribute pornography via the internet in the state.

Taliban Restricts Access to Adult Content by Shutting Down Internet

The Taliban has shut down internet access across a large portion of Afghanistan in a move to prevent what it deems "immoral activities."

Go.cam Adds Video Spoofing Protection for AV

Go.cam has announced that its verification solution now features security against video spoofing.

SexLikeReal Releases 'VR Self-Care' Guide

SexLikeReal (SLR) has published a blog post spotlighting “VR Self-Care.”

Show More