Judge Rules Against Ohio Law Restricting Social Media for Kids

A federal judge has permanently blocked Ohio’s attempt to regulate teens’ social media use, dealing a blow to lawmakers who claimed platforms are “intentionally addictive” to young users.

Key Takeaways

US District Judge Algenon L. Marbley struck down Ohio’s law requiring parental consent for minors under 16 to use social media, ruling it violates First Amendment rights.
The blocked law would have forced platforms to verify users’ ages through government ID, credit cards, or digital consent forms.
NetChoice, representing tech companies like Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat, has successfully challenged similar laws in other states including Arkansas, California, and Utah.
The court acknowledged Ohio’s goal of protecting children but found the law was not sufficiently tailored to address those concerns constitutionally.
Ohio officials are reviewing the decision while some lawmakers are already drafting alternative legislation focused on app store consent rather than individual platforms.

Constitutional Rights Trump State Regulations

Judge Algenon L. Marbley’s ruling delivers a decisive victory for tech companies against what has become a nationwide trend of states attempting to restrict minors’ social media access. The law, part of an $86.1 billion state budget bill signed by Republican Governor Mike DeWine in July 2023, would have required parental permission for children under 16 to use social media platforms and gaming apps. The measure was permanently blocked after the judge determined it violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

The legislation would have required social media companies to verify users’ ages through government identification, credit or debit card information, or digital consent forms. Companies that failed to comply would have faced potential lawsuits from the state attorney general. Judge Marbley classified the law as a content-based restriction that required strict scrutiny – a high legal standard the state failed to meet.

A federal judge on Wednesday permanently struck down Ohio’s law requiring social media companies to collect parental consent for residents younger than 16 who wanted to create social media accounts. https://t.co/hLiXRmJcMe

— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) April 17, 2025

NetChoice Continues Legal Victory Streak

The lawsuit was filed by NetChoice, a trade association representing major tech companies including Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), TikTok, Snapchat, and other digital platforms. The group has successfully challenged similar laws in Arkansas, California, and Utah, establishing a clear pattern of judicial protection for online speech rights. The Ohio case marks their latest victory in an ongoing national battle over how states can regulate minors’ social media access.

“NetChoice’s victory in Ohio joins federal courts nationwide in finding age verification and barriers to lawful information unconstitutional,” Director of Litigation Chris Marchese said in a statement. “The decision confirms that the First Amendment protects both websites’ right to disseminate content and American’s right to engage with protected speech online, and policymakers must respect constitutional rights when legislating.”

Court Acknowledges State’s Intentions But Rules on Constitutional Grounds

In his ruling, Judge Marbley recognized Ohio’s legitimate goal of protecting children but concluded that constitutional principles must prevail. The decision emphasized that First Amendment protections extend to minors and that the state’s evidence regarding social media harm relied on correlation rather than causation. The court found the law was either underinclusive or overinclusive in its approach to protecting children from potentially harmful digital content.

State Officials Consider Next Steps

Some Ohio lawmakers are already pivoting to alternative approaches. State legislators are considering new legislation that would require parental consent through app stores rather than individual platforms, potentially sidestepping some of the constitutional issues that doomed the current law. Governor Mike DeWine has called for congressional action at the federal level to address concerns about social media’s impact on youth mental health.