An appeals court in the United States has upheld a law requiring parental consent for individuals under the age of 16 to use social media platforms.
Authorities in the state of Ohio have described the ruling as an important step toward protecting families and children.
Following the decision, parents will have greater control over teenagers' use of platforms such as Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.
Previously, a lower court had suspended the Social Media Parental Notification Act after objections from NetChoice, a coalition representing technology companies.
However, a three-judge appellate panel overturned the suspension in a 2–1 decision, stating that the law does not violate constitutional protections for freedom of speech.Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson hailed the ruling as a major victory for families.