Appeals Court Allows Ohio to Restrict Children’s Use of Social Media

The panel concluded that the state law does not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and Reddit applications are displayed on a mobile phone on Dec. 9, 2025. Hollie Adams/Reuters

A federal appeals court on Thursday allowed Ohio to enforce a law requiring social media companies to obtain parental consent before permitting children under 16 to access their platforms.

The law, known as the Social Media Parental Notification Act, was passed by the state’s legislature in 2023 and took effect in January 2024. NetChoice—a trade group representing TikTok, Meta, and other major tech companies—later filed a lawsuit, alleging that the law was unconstitutional.