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A federal judge has temporarily blocked Virginia from enforcing a new social media law designed to protect children from online addiction, ruling that it likely violates First Amendment rights. The decision marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over age verification laws and youth access to social media platforms.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles in Alexandria issued a preliminary injunction against Senate Bill 854, a law signed by former Governor Glenn Youngkin in May 2025 that took effect on January 1, 2026. The legislation required social media companies to verify users’ ages and restricted minors under 16 to just one hour of daily use.
The lawsuit was filed by NetChoice, a technology trade association representing major platforms including Google, Meta, Netflix, Reddit, and Elon Musk’s X. The group argued that the Virginia social media law infringed on free speech rights protected by the U.S. Constitution.
In her ruling, Judge Giles stated that while Virginia has a compelling interest in addressing the youth mental health crisis and the addictive features of social media, the law was both overly broad and inconsistent. She noted that the measure required age verification for all users, including adults, making it overinclusive. At the same time, it excluded certain interactive gaming platforms that may also have addictive features, rendering it underinclusive.
The judge further pointed out that the law restricted minors from viewing more than an hour of content on topics such as science, history, or religious programming on social media platforms, even though similar content remained accessible on streaming services.
Virginia officials said they remain committed to enforcing laws that help parents protect children from online harms. Meanwhile, NetChoice welcomed the decision, emphasizing that the government cannot limit access to lawful speech, even with good intentions.
