A federal judge in Ohio has issued a
temporary restraining order
, according to the news agency Associated Press, putting a halt on the enforcement of a pending law that would require children to obtain
parental consent
before using
social media apps
. The order was issued by US District Court Judge Algenon Marbley in response to a
lawsuit
filed by NetChoice, a trade group representing major tech companies including TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta.
NetChoice argues that the law violates free speech rights, stating that it is overly broad and vague. Judge Marbley acknowledged the aim of protecting children but expressed doubt that the law is narrowly tailored to achieve its intended purpose.
In the ruling, Marbley highlighted that preventing minors under the age of sixteen from accessing all content on social media platforms without parental consent is an excessively restrictive measure. He described it as a "breathtakingly blunt instrument" for addressing the potential harm of social media to children.
The law, which was scheduled to take effect on January 15, is similar to legislation enacted in other states. It not only requires parental consent for children under 16 to sign up for social media and gaming apps but also mandates that companies provide parents with privacy guidelines to allow them to understand which content will be moderated or censored on their child's profile.
The Social Media Parental Notification Act was included in an $86.1 billion state budget bill signed into law by Republican Governor Mike DeWine in July. The administration advocated for the law as a means of safeguarding children's mental health, with Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted asserting that social media platforms were intentionally addictive and harmful to kids.
Husted expressed disappointment in the judge's decision, accusing the tech companies of being disingenuous participants in the legislative process and lacking genuine concern for child protection. Governor DeWine also lamented the ruling, emphasizing the documented negative effects of social media on children's mental health and stating that the law aimed to empower parents in their children's digital lives.
NetChoice filed the lawsuit against Republican Attorney General Dave Yost in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The trade group has previously won lawsuits against similar restrictions in California and Arkansas.
English (US) ·