Court Reinstates Child Safety Law Requiring Parental Consent for Social Media Use in Ohio
A federal appeals court has ruled in favour of Ohio’s law requiring parental consent for children under 16 to use social media platforms, marking a significant development in ongoing efforts to strengthen child online safety.
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 2–1 decision supporting the state’s Social Media Parental Notification Act. The ruling restores enforcement of the law while related legal challenges continue in lower courts.
Under the law, social media companies must obtain parental permission before allowing children to create accounts or access platforms. Companies are also required to share privacy policies and moderation details with families.
The measure, introduced as part of Ohio’s wider child protection strategy, aims to address concerns about children’s mental health, exposure to harmful content, and excessive screen use. State officials have previously described social media as highly addictive for young users.
However, technology industry groups, including NetChoice, argue that the law places undue restrictions on free expression and is too broad in its application. The group has filed legal challenges, comparing it to similar laws contested in other U.S. states.
Despite these objections, the court ruled that the parental consent requirement is a reasonable safeguard. Judge Eric Clay noted that the law targets risks linked to unsupervised access to social media platforms.
Child safety advocates have long pushed for stronger digital protections, warning that children are increasingly exposed to unsafe interactions and content online.
As the case returns to a lower court, the decision is being viewed as a key step in the broader global debate over how to balance children’s online freedom with safeguarding responsibilities.
