Court Orders Ohio Restrictions on Kids' Social Media Restored
A U.S. appeals court has cleared the way for an Ohio law requiring parental consent for children under 16 to use social media, reversing a previous block by a federal judge
In a legal development out of Columbus, Ohio, a divided panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered that the state's restrictions on children's use of social media must be restored. The ruling, which was issued on Thursday, clears the way for Ohio to implement a law requiring social media companies to obtain parental consent before allowing children under the age of 16 to use their platforms. The mandate applies to major social media services, including Meta Platforms' Instagram, which must now seek parental permission for these younger users.[1][2]
The appellate court's decision marks a significant shift in the ongoing legal battle over the state's regulations. Previously, a federal judge had extended a block on the enforcement of the Ohio law, preventing the parental consent requirements from taking effect. That judicial block was intended to halt the law's implementation while a legal challenge against the restrictions proceeded through the court system, but the new appeals court ruling has now cleared the way for the law to move forward.[1][2][3][4]
