Federal Appeals Court Revives Ohio Social Media Parental Consent Law
6 hours ago
A federal appeals court has revived Ohio’s law requiring parental consent for children under the age of 16 to create and use social media accounts, handing a victory to state officials who argue the measure is necessary to protect minors online.
In a 2-1 decision, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law is constitutional and directed a lower court to lift an injunction that had blocked its enforcement. The court found that the requirement for parental approval places only a limited burden on users and is aimed at addressing concerns about children’s interactions with social media platforms.
Known as the Social Media Parental Notification Act, the law requires social media and certain gaming platforms to obtain parental permission before allowing users under 16 to create accounts. Companies must also provide information about privacy policies and content moderation practices.
Supporters of the law, including Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, say the measure gives parents greater oversight of their children’s online activity and helps protect young users from harmful or addictive content.
The lawsuit was brought by NetChoice, a technology industry group representing companies including TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta. The organization argued the law is overly broad and violates First Amendment protections. NetChoice said it plans to continue challenging the measure in court.
The ruling marks a departure from decisions in several other states where similar laws have faced legal setbacks, setting up a potentially significant battle over how far states can go in regulating children's access to social media.
In a 2-1 decision, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law is constitutional and directed a lower court to lift an injunction that had blocked its enforcement. The court found that the requirement for parental approval places only a limited burden on users and is aimed at addressing concerns about children’s interactions with social media platforms.
Known as the Social Media Parental Notification Act, the law requires social media and certain gaming platforms to obtain parental permission before allowing users under 16 to create accounts. Companies must also provide information about privacy policies and content moderation practices.
Supporters of the law, including Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, say the measure gives parents greater oversight of their children’s online activity and helps protect young users from harmful or addictive content.
The lawsuit was brought by NetChoice, a technology industry group representing companies including TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta. The organization argued the law is overly broad and violates First Amendment protections. NetChoice said it plans to continue challenging the measure in court.
The ruling marks a departure from decisions in several other states where similar laws have faced legal setbacks, setting up a potentially significant battle over how far states can go in regulating children's access to social media.
