What's Happening?
Bluesky, a social networking startup, has decided to comply with age verification laws in South Dakota and Wyoming after exiting Mississippi due to its stringent age-assurance law. In these states, Bluesky will utilize Kids Web Services (KWS) to allow users to verify their ages through various methods, including payment cards, identity documents, and anonymous face scans for facial age estimation. This approach is similar to the one Bluesky uses to comply with the U.K.'s Online Safety Act. The decision to exit Mississippi was due to the state's law requiring verification of all users, not just those accessing age-restricted content, and obtaining parental consent for users under 18, with penalties up to $10,000 per user.
Why It's Important?
The move by Bluesky highlights the challenges faced by smaller social networking platforms in navigating diverse state laws on age verification. While larger companies like Meta can absorb the costs of compliance, smaller startups may struggle, potentially limiting competition in the social media space. The laws aim to protect minors online, but privacy advocates argue they may increase risks of identity theft and invasiveness. Bluesky's approach in South Dakota and Wyoming offers a more balanced solution, allowing continued access without broad restrictions, which could serve as a model for other states and companies.
What's Next?
Bluesky's decision may prompt other states to reconsider their age verification laws to avoid losing smaller tech companies. As more states enact similar laws, Bluesky and other startups will need to adapt their strategies to maintain compliance while protecting user privacy. The ongoing expansion of age verification laws globally suggests that companies will continue to face challenges in balancing regulatory compliance with operational feasibility.
Beyond the Headlines
The broader implications of Bluesky's compliance strategy could influence future legislative approaches to online safety, potentially encouraging more nuanced laws that consider the capabilities of smaller tech firms. This development may also spark discussions on federal regulations to create a unified standard, reducing the complexity of compliance for companies operating across multiple states.
