The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court's injunction in a 2-1 decision. This ruling allows Ohio to enforce the Social Media Parental Notification Act. The law requires social media platforms to obtain parental consent for users under age 16.
The decision marks a setback for NetChoice, a trade group representing Meta, TikTok, and Snap. NetChoice challenged the law on First Amendment grounds, arguing the legislation was overly broad and vague.
The court ruled the consent requirement is a marginal burden that addresses Ohio's interest in protecting children. Ohio signed the legislation in July 2023. A federal judge originally blocked the law in January 2024 before it could take effect. The case now returns to the lower court to officially lift the block.