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

A trade association representing major tech corporations, including TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta Platforms (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), has filed a lawsuit against the state of Ohio. The lawsuit is in response to a new state law that mandates parental consent for children to use social media applications. This law was incorporated into an $86. 1 billion state budget bill that was signed into law by Republican Governor Mike DeWine in July. The law is slated to go into effect on January 15. The administration has promoted this measure as a means to safeguard children's mental health, asserting that social media is 'intentionally addictive' and detrimental to children.

The lawsuit was filed by the trade group NetChoice against Republican Attorney General Dave Yost in the US District Court for the Southern district of Ohio. The group is seeking to prevent the law from being implemented. The litigation contends that Ohio's law, which necessitates social media companies to secure parental consent for children under 16 to register for social media and video gaming apps, infringes upon free speech rights, and is overly broad and ambiguous. The law also obligates social media companies to share their privacy policies with parents, enabling families to understand what content will be censored or moderated on their child's profile.

NetChoice asserts that families equipped with educational resources are capable of determining the best approach to online services and privacy protections. Chris Marchese, director of the organization's litigation center, stated, 'With NetChoice v Yost, we will fight to ensure all Ohioans can embrace digital tools without their privacy, security and rights being thwarted. ' The group has previously won lawsuits against similar restrictions in California and Arkansas. Jon Husted, who spearheads Ohio's technology initiatives and championed the law, labeled the lawsuit as 'cowardly but not unexpected. ' He accused the tech companies of attempting to circumvent parents to expose children to harmful content and addict them to their platforms. He further alleged that the tech companies are aware that their algorithms are causing harm to children, leading to 'catastrophic health and mental health outcomes'.