Georgia lawmakers look for ways keep social media from harming children

In a rare bipartisan act to protect children, Georgia legislators adopted a law last year that regulated social media companies.

But the industry sued and, for now, has sidelined the prohibition on advertising to children. The law also required platforms to obtain parental consent when minors signup for service.

The age verification mandate forces everyone to share identifying information to prove their age, placing what a federal judge called “severe burdens” on adults, leading to her decision in June to issue a preliminary injunction against enforcement.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has appealed the decision. His office said he is helping to defend similar laws in other states, including Texas, Florida and Ohio.

The platforms are fighting a tide of legislation as states re