Judge Blocks Ohio’s Social Media Parental Notification Act from Being Enforced

Kaitlin Housler
Kids on Phone

Chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio Algenon L. Marbley granted NetChoice’s request for a preliminary injunction that stops the state’s Social Media Parental Notification Act from being enforced on Monday.

Last month, NetChoice sued Ohio to block the Social Media Parental Notification Act from taking effect.

NetChoice, a “trade organization fighting to protect free expression and free enterprise online,” is representing social media companies Dreamwidth, Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, Pinterest, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube in the lawsuit against the Buckeye State.

The Social Media Parental Notification Act, which was set to take effect on January 15, would require certain online companies – including all of which are represented in NetChoice’s lawsuit – to “obtain verifiable parental consent to contractual terms of service before permitting kids under the age of 16 to use their platforms.”

Marbley’s ruling halts the law from being enforced while the lawsuit moves through the legal system.

While NetChoice applauded the judge’s ruling, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted said they were “disappointed.”

“There is overwhelming evidence that social media has a negative effect on the mental health of minors, including increases in depression and suicide-related behavior,” DeWine said in a statement. “The Social Media Parental Notification Act remains a reasonable, clear, narrowly tailored, and, I believe, lawful approach to provide safeguards and parental guidance. I am disappointed in today’s ruling by the district court and respectfully disagree with it. Since the federal courts are interpreting federal constitutional law as preventing the State of Ohio from protecting Ohio’s children, then Congress needs to act to protect our country’s children.”

Husted added, “It’s disappointing, but it will not deter us from our responsibility to protect children from exploitative social media algorithms that are causing a crisis of depression, suicide, bullying, and sexual exploitation among our children.”

“These companies could solve this problem without passing new laws, but they refuse to do so. Because social media companies will not be responsible, we must hold them accountable,” Husted continued. “Now, more than ever, we have a responsibility to continue our fight to protect children so they will not be exploited and monetized at the hands of big tech. After we have time to review the decision, we will determine our next steps but we are resolved to escalate our efforts to protect kids from further exploitation.”

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.

 

 

 

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