Mississippi restricts access to Bluesky due to age verification regulations
Mississippi has enacted a new law requiring age verification for access to social media sites, a move that has led to the closure of Bluesky, a primary alternative to Elon Musk's X, in the state.
The law, which applies to all social media sites, not just those with explicit content, has put Bluesky in a tough spot. Compliance with the law would require Bluesky users in Mississippi to hand over sensitive personal information and undergo age checks.
The Supreme Court's recent decision leaves Bluesky with the choice of either complying with the age assurance law or facing massive fines. However, Bluesky believes this law creates challenges that go beyond its child safety goals and creates significant barriers that limit free speech.
The new law disproportionately harms smaller platforms and emerging technologies, as it would require Bluesky to identify and track which users are children, unlike its approach in other regions. This requirement raises concerns over the cost burden and privacy of Bluesky's users.
Bluesky's website, Trend Report, requires users to confirm they are 16+ and agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy to sign up for its weekly newsletter. Despite this, the new law poses challenges that the platform is unwilling to take on.
The authority or organization that enacted the age verification requirement for social media use in Mississippi is the state government itself. The age verification mandate is a state-level legal obligation rather than issued by a separate agency.
This decision by Bluesky to stop operating in Mississippi highlights the complexities and potential pitfalls of age verification laws for social media platforms. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial for laws to strike a balance between child safety and free speech, without unduly burdening smaller platforms and emerging technologies.
