The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to intervene in the enforcement of a Mississippi law requiring social media platforms to verify user ages, leading to the temporary suspension of the service Bluesky within the state.

“Starting today, if you access Bluesky from a Mississippi IP address, you’ll see a message explaining why the app isn’t available,” the company stated in a published announcement.
“Este bloqueo permanecerá en vigor mientras los tribunales deciden si la ley se mantendrá.”

The Mississippi law mandates that social media networks verify the ages of users and secure parental consent for those under 18. Additionally, companies are expected to implement strategies to shield minors from harmful content, including bullying and exploitation.

This law excludes services focused primarily on online gaming, likely leaving platforms like Steam unaffected, but many in the gaming industry are closely monitoring developments regarding age verification laws in various regions.

Bluesky, which advocates for decentralized social media, argues it cannot realistically comply with Mississippi’s extensive requirements.

“Unlike tech giants with vast resources, we’re a small team focused on building decentralized social technology that puts users in control,” the company explained.
“Los sistemas de verificación de edad requieren una infraestructura sustancial y una inversión de tiempo de desarrollo, protecciones complejas de privacidad y un seguimiento continuo de cumplimiento—costos que pueden abrumar fácilmente a los proveedores más pequeños.”

Bluesky has indicated that they can comply with the UK’s Online Safety Act, which offers a more specific framework for age verification related to access to certain material, making compliance feasible.

In contrast, Mississippi’s statute encompasses all users, effectively blocking access unless sensitive information is provided, ultimately creating burdens financially for smaller companies.