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Tech trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat and Meta sues Ohio over state’s new law limiting children’s use of social media apps

  • The law forms part of a state budget bill that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed into law last July and is set to take effect on January 15
  • The NetChoice trade group argues that Ohio’s law unconstitutionally impedes free speech, and is overbroad and vague

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Ohio’s new law requires social media companies to obtain a parent’s permission for children under 16 to sign up for social media and video gaming apps. Photo: TNS
Associated Press
A trade group representing major tech companies including TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook and Instagram operator Meta Platforms sued Ohio on Friday over the state’s pending law that requires children to get parental consent to use social media apps.

The law was part of an US$86.1 billion state budget bill that Republican Governor Mike DeWine signed into law last July. It is set to take effect on January 15.

The administration pushed the measure as a way to protect children’s mental health, with Republican Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted saying at the time that social media was “intentionally addictive” and harmful to kids.

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The NetChoice trade group filed its lawsuit against Republican Attorney General Dave Yost in US District Court for the Southern district of Ohio. It seeks to block the law from taking effect.

A pending law in Ohio that requires children to get parental consent to use social media apps forms part of a state budget bill that Republican Governor Mike DeWine signed into law in July 2023 and is set to take effect on January 15. Photo: AP
A pending law in Ohio that requires children to get parental consent to use social media apps forms part of a state budget bill that Republican Governor Mike DeWine signed into law in July 2023 and is set to take effect on January 15. Photo: AP
The litigation argues that Ohio’s law – which requires social media companies to obtain a parent’s permission for children under 16 to sign up for social media and video gaming apps – unconstitutionally impedes free speech, and is overbroad and vague.
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