A federal judge has ruled that social media companies cannot be required to block certain types of content from teenagers. The ruling would block some aspects of Texas’ controversial social media law from taking effect.
The ruling comes as a result of tech industry groups’ opposition to the Safeguarding Kids Online Through Parent Empowerment (MAIN) Act, a Texas law that imposes age verification requirements and other policies on how social media companies treat teenage users. However, as The Verge the measure also requires companies to “prevent the exposure of a known minor to harmful material,” including content that “glorifies” self-harm and substance abuse.
That last requirement was struck down, the judge said, saying “a state cannot pick and choose which categories of speech it seeks to prevent teenagers from discussing online.” The judge also criticized the language used in the law, writing in his ruling that terms like “glorify” and “promote” are “politically charged” and “undefined.”
At the same time, the judge left in place other aspects of the law, including age verification requirements and a ban on advertising directed at minors. There’s NetChoice, a tech industry group that’s protesting the law Measures like the Scope Act require big tech companies to increase the amount of data they collect from minors.
The Texas law passed last year is one of many efforts across the country how social media platforms treat minor users. Recently passed New York limiting the ability of social media companies to collect information about teen users and requiring parental consent for young users to access “addictive” features such as algorithmic feeds. California lawmakers also recently a measure not yet signed into law by the governor would require social media companies to limit notifications to minors and restrict them from “addictive” algorithms.
