FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS NEBRASKA'S SOCIAL MEDIA AGE VERIFICATION LAW FROM GOING INTO EFFECT IN JULY

LINCOLN— A federal judge has temporarily blocked key parts of Nebraska's 2025 Parental Rights in Social Media Act (LB 383), ruling that its requirements for age verification and parental consent before minors can create social media accounts are likely unconstitutional under the First Amendment. Senior U.S. District Judge John Gerrard found the law broadly restricts protected speech and is unlikely to survive constitutional scrutiny, even though the state has a compelling interest in protecting children's mental health.

However, the judge allowed one provision to take effect: social media companies must provide parents with a dashboard to monitor a minor's posts, interactions, and private messages. The lawsuit was brought by NetChoice, whose members include major platforms such as Meta, TikTok, Google, and X. The injunction is temporary while the case proceeds, and NetChoice is expected to seek a permanent block of the law.

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