Bluesky, a social media platform, has decided to block all users in Mississippi. This action is a direct response to a new state law, the “Walker Montgomery Protecting Children Online Act,” which requires social media sites to verify the age of every user. The law, which aims to protect children from online harms, mandates that platforms collect sensitive personal information and implement complex age verification systems.
Bluesky has stated that complying with this law would fundamentally alter its service. The company, a smaller player in the social media space, argues that it lacks the resources to build the extensive verification infrastructure required. It also raised concerns about the broad scope of the law, which mandates age checks for all users, not just minors. Bluesky views this as a significant privacy and free speech issue. The company is risking substantial fines of up to $10,000 per user for non-compliance. This move highlights a growing conflict between state-level attempts at online regulation and the operational realities and principles of social media platforms.
