U.S. Supreme Court Allows Mississippi Social Media Law Take Effect

Publish Date : 08/22/2025

The U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed Mississippi’s new law regulating minors’ access to social media platforms to take effect, marking another turning point in the growing national debate about children, technology, and mental health. In a brief order with no dissent, the Court rejected an emergency request from NetChoice, a trade group representing major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Reddit, and Snapchat.

The Mississippi law requires all users under 18 to verify their age and obtain parental consent to use social media. Platforms are also required to make “reasonable efforts” to ensure minors are not exposed to harmful content. Violations could result in fines of up to $10,000. The law reflects rising concern about the documented links between heavy social media use and increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among young people.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in a concurring opinion, suggested that while NetChoice might ultimately succeed in challenging the law on First Amendment grounds, the group had not shown sufficient harm to block the law in its early stages. This follows a similar case in 2011, when the Court struck down California’s attempt to ban the sale of violent video games to minors. Then, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote that the state could not restrict access to protected speech—even when aimed at children—without violating the Constitution. The Mississippi case is different, however, because it focuses on access to platforms themselves rather than specific content, raising new questions about online safety and free speech in the digital era.

Mississippi is not alone. States like California, Georgia, and Florida have passed comparable laws, all of which are being challenged by the tech industry. But unlike in 2011, the evidence tying social media to real-world harm is far stronger. Studies show that early exposure to smartphones and excessive online engagement increase risks of depression, aggression, and suicidal ideation among young people.

This case could set the stage for a major rethinking of how far states can go to protect children online. Will the courts continue to treat social media like protected speech, or will the harms to minors justify stronger safeguards? For now, Mississippi’s law stands, and the pressure on Big Tech is only growing.

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