Judge Blocks Arkansas Social Media Age Law

A federal judge has declared Arkansas' Social Media Safety Act, which required age verification for social media users, unconstitutional. Judge Timothy L. Brooks ruled that the law violated the First Amendment by imposing a content-based restriction on speech and was unconstitutionally vague under the Fourteenth Amendment. The law, which mandated parental consent for minors to access social media, faced opposition from digital rights groups and tech industry representatives, including NetChoice, who argued it infringed on privacy and free speech. In response to the ruling, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposed new legislation aimed at protecting children online, allowing parents to sue social media companies if their child is harmed by exposure to toxic content. The ruling is part of a broader national debate over the balance between protecting minors online and preserving constitutional rights. It remains unclear if Arkansas will appeal the decision, but age verification laws continue to be contested in various states.