TL;DRA US appeals court has ruled Ohio can enforce a 2023 law requiring parental consent for kids under 16 to use social media.For users in Ohio, the law would effectively require age verification at sign-up for platforms like YouTube and TikTok.Proponents argue that the law will help protect children from potential online harm. Detractors note drawbacks including cybersecurity risks involved in online ID verification, as well as potential First Amendment issues.Another US state is making headway toward restricting social media access for kids. This week, a US appeals court ruled that Ohio can enforce a law requiring social media operators to obtain parental consent before allowing children under 16 to access their platforms, overturning a 2024 decision that had blocked the law from going into effect.Ohio’s Parental Notification by Social Media Operators Act was initially signed into law in 2023 and set to go into effect the following year, but was held up by a legal challenge from industry group NetChoice, whose members include Meta and YouTube. Reuters reports that the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati has reversed a prior decision in favor of NetChoice, allowing the law to go into effect.