On this episode of the podcast, NetChoice’s Director of Policy Patrick Hedger details why they launched a new lawsuit against the State of Virginia for passing a new law that would require minors younger than 16 years of age to undergo age-verification, receive parental consent, and be limited to just one hour per day of use on social media platforms. 

Hedger argues that this regulation represents a direct assault on free speech and privacy, comparing it to forcing you to read a book only one hour at a time or verifying your identity just to watch a documentary. Hedger contrasts Virginia’s approach with similar efforts, such as Texas’ SB814 which targeted minors’ access to pornographic content, and highlights a worrying trend of regulatory models being adopted from abroad, including the UK’s Online Safety Act and the proposed Kids Online Safety Act in Congress. 

You can learn more about NetChoice by visiting their website: NetChoice.org. You can also follow Patrick Hedger, Amanda Head and this podcast on X by searching for the respected handle: @Pat_Hedger, @AmandaHead, @FurthermorePod.