A federal judge has officially struck down a new Ohio law that would have made kids under 16 get their parents’ permission to use social media. The law, known as the Social Media Parental Notification Act, was part of a larger state budget passed in July 2023. It was supposed to begin on January 15, 2024, but was put on hold right away by the court.
U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley ruled that the law is unconstitutional. In his opinion, he said the law went too far, even if the goal of protecting children was a good one. He explained that the U.S. Constitution still applies, even when the government is trying to help.
The lawsuit was filed by NetChoice, a group that represents big tech companies like TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. NetChoice said the law would block free speech and was written in a way that was too broad and unclear. The judge agreed.
Ohio’s Attorney General Dave Yost is now reviewing the court’s decision. His office has not yet said if the state will appeal the ruling.
The law would have required apps and websites to get a parent’s approval before allowing kids to create accounts. It also would have made companies share their privacy policies and explain what kind of content might be blocked or moderated. Supporters of the law said this would help parents protect their children online.
Republican leaders in Ohio, including Governor Mike DeWine and former Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, had promoted the law as a way to protect kids’ mental health. Husted called social media “intentionally addictive” and said it could harm young people.
But the judge said the law touches on two important rights: the right of children to have free speech, and the right of parents to raise their kids without too much government control. He said this law gave power to the government, not parents.
Other states like California, Arkansas, and Utah have passed similar laws. NetChoice has filed lawsuits there, too, and so far, courts have also blocked those laws—either for now or permanently.
Chris Marchese, who works with NetChoice, praised the ruling. He said it shows that both tech companies and users have the right to share and receive information online. He added that lawmakers must follow the Constitution when writing new laws.
This court decision means Ohio’s law will not take effect. But the bigger debate—about how to protect kids online without breaking their rights—is still going.