After blocking its service in Mississippi over strict age-assurance rules, decentralized social platform Bluesky is taking a different approach in South Dakota and Wyoming.
Instead of cutting off all unverified users, Bluesky will use Kids Web Services (KWS) to handle age verification, the company said Wednesday. Users in those states can now confirm their ages through multiple methods, including payment cards, ID checks, facial age estimation, or other alternatives. Bluesky is already using KWS to comply with the U.K.’s Online Safety Act.
“We believe this approach currently strikes the right balance,” the company wrote in a blog post. “Bluesky will remain available to users in these states, and we will not need to restrict the app for everyone.”
The move highlights the challenges smaller platforms face as states roll out their own child-safety laws. Mississippi’s law had forced Bluesky to suspend service there, since it required verifying all users, not just those accessing adult content, and securing parental consent for minors, with penalties reaching $10,000 per user. Bluesky said it lacked the resources to make such extensive changes.
Related: Mastodon Says It Can’t Comply With Mississippi’s Age Verification Law
By contrast, the South Dakota and Wyoming laws allow a more flexible path, letting the startup comply without halting service.
Age-verification requirements are spreading globally, but without federal U.S. standards, platforms must juggle a patchwork of state-level regulations. Critics warn that such laws can increase risks of identity theft and raise privacy concerns, even as governments push to protect minors online.
