Social Media Laws for Minors by State (2026): What’s in Effect

Quick answer

More than a dozen states have passed laws requiring age checks, parental consent or limits on addictive features for minors on social media, but many have been challenged in court. As of October 31, 2026, laws in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee can be enforced, Utah’s, Louisiana’s and Virginia’s remain blocked, and others take effect in 2027.

Key takeaways

Most of these laws require age verification and parental consent for younger teens.
Tech industry groups have sued over almost every one, arguing they violate the First Amendment.
Appeals courts in 2026 let several laws take effect, including Florida’s and Georgia’s in October.
These laws govern the platforms going forward. They don’t decide a family’s claim for past harm.

Laws that can be enforced now

Florida (HB 3, 2024): no accounts for children under 14, and parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds on platforms with addictive features. The 11th Circuit lifted the injunction on October 14, 2026.
Georgia (SB 351, 2024): age verification and parental consent under 16. The 11th Circuit lifted the injunction on October 15, 2026.
Mississippi (HB 1126, 2024): age verification and parental consent for minors. The 5th Circuit allowed enforcement while the case continues, and in August 2025 the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block it.
Ohio (Social Media Parental Notification Act, 2023): parental consent under 16. The 6th Circuit reversed the injunction in June 2026.
Tennessee (2024): age verification and parental consent for minors. The law is in effect while the challenge continues in the lower court.
California (SB 976, 2024): no algorithmic feeds for minors without parental consent, with limits on notifications. The 9th Circuit upheld the main provisions in 2025, and a federal judge refused to block it again in August 2026. Appeals continue.
Maryland Kids Code (2024): design duties for platforms used by children. A challenge is pending, but the law has not been blocked.
Idaho (2026): platforms must estimate users’ ages, and accounts not shown to be 16 or older need parental consent and lose infinite scroll and autoplay. Effective July 1, 2026.
Texas: parts of the SCOPE Act (2023) are in effect, including age registration, while its content-filtering duty remains blocked. Texas’s app store age-verification law took effect in 2026 after the Supreme Court declined to step in.

Laws blocked by courts

Utah (2024 social media law): blocked since September 2024; an appeal is pending in the 10th Circuit.
Louisiana (2023 law requiring parental consent under 16): a federal court ruled for the challengers in December 2025; an appeal is pending.
Arkansas: its 2023 law is permanently blocked, and two 2025 laws were blocked in December 2025 and April 2026.
Virginia (2025 law setting a one-hour daily default for under-16s): blocked in February 2026; an appeal is pending.
Nebraska (2025): the age-verification and parental-consent parts were blocked in June 2026; the rest of the law is in effect.
Colorado (2024 pop-up warning law): blocked in November 2025; an appeal is pending.

Laws taking effect soon

New York SAFE for Kids Act: no algorithmic feeds and no overnight notifications for minors without parental consent, starting January 25, 2027 under rules the attorney general finalized in July 2026.
Minnesota (2026): parental consent under 16 and no infinite scroll, autoplay or push notifications for kids, effective in 2027.
South Carolina (2026): no infinite scroll, autoplay or targeted ads for under-16 accounts, effective January 1, 2027.
Vermont Kids Code: effective January 1, 2027.
App store age-verification laws in Utah, Louisiana, Alabama and California are scheduled to take effect in 2027.

Why so many laws end up in court

Industry groups such as NetChoice and CCIA argue these laws restrict minors’ and adults’ access to lawful speech and force everyone to prove their age. States argue they regulate product design and protect children. Courts have split, and the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet decided the core question. Expect these statuses to keep changing.

What this means for your family

State laws like these control how platforms must treat young users going forward. They are separate from a family’s own claim for harm a child already suffered, which is brought under state injury law and has its own filing deadline. See the deadline for your state on our state pages.

Common questions

Which states require parental consent for social media?

As of October 31, 2026, enforceable parental-consent laws include Florida (ages 14–15), Georgia (under 16), Mississippi, Ohio (under 16) and Tennessee. Similar laws in Utah, Louisiana, Arkansas and Virginia are blocked by courts.

Is there a minimum age for social media in the U.S.?

There is no federal minimum age law. Most platforms set 13 as their minimum because of federal children’s privacy rules. Florida bars accounts for children under 14 on covered platforms.

Why are state social media laws being blocked?

Tech industry groups argue the laws violate the First Amendment by restricting access to speech and requiring age checks. Courts have reached different results, and many cases are on appeal.

Do these laws affect a lawsuit for my child’s harm?

No. They govern how platforms must operate going forward. A family’s injury claim is brought separately under state law and has its own deadline.

Sources

General information, not legal or medical advice. If you are worried about your child’s health, talk to their doctor. Attorney advertising by Grove and Associates PLC; responsible attorney Justin Grove. Results in other cases don’t predict the outcome of yours.