Social Media Parental Notification Act

Social Media Parental Notification Act
Government of Ohio
  • Parental Notification by Social Media Operators Act
CitationOhio Rev. Code § 1349.09
Territorial extentOhio
Enacted byGovernment of Ohio
EffectiveJune 18, 2026
PassedJune 12, 2023
Summary
Stops minors under the age of 16 from signing up to social media without parental consent
Status: In force

The Social Media Parental Notification Act was a bill implemented by Ohio's governor that would've required online companies to obtain parental consent in order for a minor under the age of 16 to use their platform.[1]

History

The bill was passed on June 12, 2023, by the Ohio congress. Lieutenant governor Jon Husted advocated for the law due to his belief that social media is "designed to be addictive and is harming the mental health of children.".[2][3]

Controversies

NetChoice, LLC v. Yost
CourtSouthern District of Ohio
Full case name NetChoice, LLC v. Dave Yost
StartedJanuary 5, 2024 (2024-01-05)
Docket nos.2:24-cv-00047 (S.D. Ohio)
25-3371 (6th Cir.)
Case history
Appealed toUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Court membership
Judge sittingAlgenon L. Marbley
Keywords

Many critics of the bill saw it as a way to stop minors using the platforms for educational reasons and political activism and to limit free speech of minors and violate the privacy of users.[4] On January 9, 2024, the Ohio court blocked the bill from going into effect calling for a temporary restraining order on it,[5] this was after NetChoice sued the Attorney General of Ohio saying the bill violated the first amendment,[6] fourteenth amendment,[7] and United States federal law.[8] On February 12, 2024, Judge Algenon L. Marbley granted NetChoice a preliminary injunction preventing the act from becoming law.[9] It's been completely blocked by the Judge Algenon L. Marbley stating that the need for parental permission was an undue burden on the rights of platform users.[10]

On April 16, 2025, the law was permanently enjoined.[11] On June 18, 2026, the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed Marbley's judgment.[12][13][14][15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted Release Statements Following Court Decision that Temporarily Blocks Social Media Parental Notification Act". governor.ohio.gov. 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  2. ↑ Bennett, Kayla (2023-12-28). "New law in Ohio cracks down on social media use among kids: What to know". The Columbus Dispatch. ISSN 1074-097X. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  3. ↑ Szilagy, Sarah (2023-06-12). "Social media companies may soon have to seek parental consent for children's accounts". WCMH-TV. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  4. ↑ Blackwell, Carmen (2024-01-15). "The Social Media Parental Notification Act: Ohio's new social media law heads to court". WKYC. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  5. ↑ Keagy, Kimberly (2024-01-09). "Ohio's social media parental law blocked by judge". WSAZ-TV. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  6. ↑ Sharman, Nathan (2024-01-05). "Social media giants sue Ohio over new social media parental act". Spectrum News. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  7. ↑ Riley, Tonya (2024-01-09). "Judge Temporarily Halts Ohio Kids' Social Media Access Law (2)". Bloomberg Law. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  8. ↑ Szilagy, Sarah (2024-01-05). "Internet freedom group sues to block Ohio's social media parental consent law". WCMH-TV. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  9. ↑ Donaldson, Sarah (2024-02-14). "Ohio's social media age law halted by federal judge". WOSU-TV. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  10. ↑ Robertson, Nick (2024-02-13). "Federal judge blocks Ohio law requiring parental consent for social media use". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  11. ↑ Balmert, Jessie (April 16, 2025). "Federal judge permanently blocks Ohio law requiring parental consent for social media". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
  12. ↑ Trau, Morgan (June 19, 2026). "Tik-Block: Federal court rules Ohio can restrict teen access to social media". WEWS-TV.
  13. ↑ "OPINION" (PDF). thomsonreuters.com. June 18, 2026.
  14. ↑ Raymond, Nate (June 18, 2026). "US court rules Ohio can restrict children's use of social media". Reuters.
  15. ↑ Koeninger, Kevin (June 19, 2026). "Sixth Circuit revives Ohio's parental consent law for kids' social media". Courthouse News Service.
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