Supreme Court allows Mississippi to require age verification on social
media like Facebook and X
[August 15, 2025]
By MARK SHERMAN and LINDSAY WHITEHURST
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday refused for now to block
enforcement of a Mississippi law aimed at regulating the use of social
media by children, an issue of growing national concern.
The justices rejected an emergency appeal from a tech industry group
representing major platforms like Facebook, X and YouTube.
NetChoice is challenging laws passed in Mississippi and other states
that require social media users to verify their ages, and asked the
court to keep the measure on hold while a lawsuit plays out.
There were no noted dissents from the brief, unsigned order. Justice
Brett Kavanaugh wrote that there's a good chance NetChoice will
eventually succeed in showing that the law is unconstitutional, but
hadn't shown it must be blocked while the lawsuit unfolds.
NetChoice argues that the Mississippi law threatens privacy rights and
unconstitutionally restricts the free expression of users of all ages.
A federal judge agreed and prevented the 2024 law from taking effect.
But a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled
in July that the law could be enforced while the lawsuit proceeds.
It’s the latest legal development as court challenges play out against
similar laws in states across the country.
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Parents and even some teenagers are growing increasingly concerned
about the effects of social media use on young people. Supporters of
the new laws have said they are needed to help curb the explosive
use of social media among young people, and what researchers say is
an associated increase in depression and anxiety.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch told the justices that age
verification could help protect young people from “sexual abuse,
trafficking, physical violence, sextortion and more,” activities
that Fitch noted are not protected by the First Amendment.
Communications director MaryAsa Lee said the state is grateful for
the decision, and expects the case to proceed “in a way that permits
thoughtful consideration of these important issues.”
NetChoice represents some of the country’s most high-profile
technology companies, including Google, which owns YouTube; Snap
Inc., the parent company of Snapchat; and Meta, the parent company
of Facebook and Instagram. NetChoice has filed similar lawsuits in
Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Utah.
Paul Taske, co-director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, called
the decision "an unfortunate procedural delay.”
“Although we’re disappointed with the Court’s decision, Justice
Kavanaugh’s concurrence makes clear that NetChoice will ultimately
succeed in defending the First Amendment — not just in this case but
across all NetChoice’s ID-for-Speech lawsuits," he said.
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