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 stringent regulations. The Mississippi law required verification for all users and parental consent for minors, imposing penalties up to $10,000 per user. In contrast, South Dakota and Wyoming allow age verification through Kids Web Services, offering multiple methods like payment cards and anonymous face scans. This approach enables Bluesky to continue operations without restricting access for all users.
Why It's Important?
The decision by Bluesky to comply with less restrictive age verification laws in South Dakota and Wyoming highlights the challenges smaller companies face in navigating diverse state regulations. These laws aim to protect minors but can be invasive and difficult for smaller companies to comply with. Privacy advocates express concerns about increased risks of identity theft. The lack of federal regulations has led to a patchwork of state laws, complicating compliance for social networks.
