Supreme Court Allows Mississippi Law on Children’s Use of Social Media, for Now

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to block a Mississippi law barring minors from using social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Snapchat, YouTube and X without their parents’ consent.

The court’s brief order was unsigned and gave no reasons, which is typical when the justices act on emergency applications. The order was not the last word in the case, which will proceed in a federal appeals court and may again reach the justices.

The challenged law, enacted last year, seeks to limit minors’ access to sites allowing them “to socially interact with other users.” Lawmakers said they sought to protect children from sex trafficking, sexual abuse, violence, grooming and harassment. More generally, they said, they were concerned about the harmful effects of social media use on young people.

The law does not apply to sites mainly devoted to news, sports, commerce or video games. It also exempts email and direct messages.

It requires social media sites to verify users’ ages and to block those under 18 unless they have their parents’ permission. Sites that violate the law may be fined $10,000 per incident and could face criminal penalties.

NetChoice, a trade association, challenged the law on behalf of nine social media sites, saying it violated the First Amendment.