Court Orders Ohio Restrictions on Kids’ Use of Social Media Restored

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that Ohio must restore a law requiring parental consent for children under 16 to use social media apps. In a 2-1 decision, the court found the Social Media Parental Notification Act is not unconstitutional, reversing a previous block on the law’s enforcement.

Why did the Sixth Circuit rule in favor of Ohio’s law?

The court determined that requiring parental consent constitutes a “marginal burden” compared to the risks children face online. Judge Eric Clay, writing the lead opinion, stated the law targets the “multi-faceted problem” of children giving unsupervised assent to terms and conditions on platforms that “take advantage of and harm them.”

Judge Alice Batchelder concurred with the decision, noting that a statute doesn’t become vague simply because it has a “wide berth.” The ruling effectively sends the case back to a lower court to vacate the block on enforcement.

How does this differ from rulings in other states?

This ruling creates a sharp contrast with previous legal battles over digital identification and age verification. NetChoice, the trade group representing Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat, has already won court victories against similar laws in Georgia, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

Paul Taske, director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, argued that the Ohio decision contradicts a “clear national consensus.” NetChoice maintains that these laws represent an unconstitutional impediment to free speech and First Amendment rights.

What are the specific requirements for tech companies?

Under the Ohio law, social media and gaming companies can’t just let minors sign up. They must obtain explicit parental permission for users under 16.

Companies are also required to provide clear privacy guidelines. These documents must explain to families exactly what content will be censored or moderated on a child’s profile. Republican Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson called the ruling a “win for Ohio families,” stating that the internet is currently “the most dangerous place for our kids.”

What happens next for social media platforms?

NetChoice has stated it intends to keep fighting the law. Because the Sixth Circuit’s ruling differs from outcomes in other jurisdictions, this case could contribute to a “circuit split.” When different federal appeals courts disagree on the same legal issue, the U.S. Supreme Court often steps in to provide a final, national interpretation.

In the immediate term, the law’s restoration puts pressure on tech companies to implement age-verification and consent workflows specifically for Ohio residents, or risk legal penalties under the state’s budget-linked mandate.

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