The Social Media Parental Notification Act, passed in July, would have required sites to gain parental permission for all users younger than 16.
The law was challenged by social media companies, including TikTok parent ByteDance and Instagram parent Meta, through the industry group NetChoice, our colleague Nick Robertson reported.
Ohio federal Judge Algenon Marbley ruled in favor of NetChoice, determining that the parental permission requirement is an undue burden on the rights of platform users.
“Foreclosing minors under sixteen from accessing all content on websites that the Act purports to cover, absent affirmative parental consent, is a breathtakingly blunt instrument for reducing social media’s harm to children,” Marbley wrote.
It is the latest effort from conservatives to put in place parental consent age requirement bills for access to social media. Multiple states have pursued similar bans, including a law in Utah that is also under legal scrutiny from the same industry group.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) denounced Marbley’s decision in a statement, calling the bill critical for young people’s wellbeing.
“There is overwhelming evidence that social media has a negative effect on the mental health of minors, including increases in depression and suicide-related behavior,” DeWine said.
“The Social Media Parental Notification Act remains a reasonable, clear, narrowly tailored, and, I believe, lawful approach to provide safeguards and parental guidance.”
Read more in a full report at TheHill.com.
