A federal judge has ruled against Ohio’s Social Media Parental Notification Act, which aimed to require parental consent for children under 16 to access social media. U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley deemed the law unconstitutional, stating it impinges on free speech rights. While the law was proposed as a measure to protect children's mental health, Marbley asserted that even well-intended efforts must be constitutionally sound. The decision follows a series of similar legal battles in other states where similar laws have been challenged successfully, highlighting ongoing tensions between child protection and free expression rights.
The Act as drafted fails to pass constitutional muster and is constitutionally infirm. Even noble entreaties to protect must abide by the U.S. Constitution.
The administration pushed the measure as a way to protect children's mental health, arguing that social media was intentionally addictive and harmful to kids.
Judge Marbley noted that while the state's intent to protect children is laudable, the approach taken in the law goes too far.
NetChoice's lawsuit argued that the law is overly broad and vague, violating free speech protections.
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