Big Tech Defeated! Federal Court Restores Ohio’s Social Media Parental Consent Law

In a monumental victory for Ohio families, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled to restore the Social Media Parental Notification Act, allowing our state to protect children from the well-documented harms of unchecked social media access.

For years, Big Tech industry groups like NetChoice—representing digital giants like Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat—have fought tooth and nail to block this commonsense legislation. Thursday's 2-1 appeals court decision overturned a previous lower court ruling that stalled the law, ensuring that parents regain the ultimate authority over their children's digital footprint.

Under the reinstated law, social media and gaming platforms are required to obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing minors under the age of 16 to create or use accounts. 

Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) championed the Social Media Parental Notification Act because children belong to their parents, not to tech conglomerates seeking to exploit their attention for profit. CCV President Aaron Baer celebrated Thursday’s ruling that empowers families and safeguards the mental health and innocence of the next generation, saying:

“This ruling is a major victory for Ohio parents and children.

“CCV was proud to advocate for this law because parents – not Big Tech companies – should decide when their children are ready to use social media. The court rightly recognized that protecting children online and empowering parents is not only constitutional, but necessary.

“The only disappointment is that this law was tied up in court for years while countless Ohio children were exposed to the harmful effects of social media without commonsense protections. We’re grateful this safeguard can finally take effect and help parents do what they do best: protect their kids.”

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision is a crucial step forward in combating the youth mental health crisis fueled by intentionally addictive algorithms. We applaud the ongoing efforts of Ohio's leadership, including Governor Mike DeWine and Senator Jon Husted, for championing this vital, family-first legislation.

While Big Tech has signaled its intent to continue fighting these safety measures, this court victory sends a clear national message: Ohio will not back down when it comes to defending our children and affirming parental rights.