Bluesky rolls out age verification in Ohio
Bluesky, the social platform, just launched age verification in Ohio. This is Bluesky's answer to a new state law that limits access to adult content.
To make it work, they've teamed up with Kids Web Services (KWS), who already help with age checks in South Dakota and Wyoming.
What's the law about?
Ohio now requires social media users to prove their age before seeing adult content.
KWS gives people several ways to do this—government ID, facial scan, or even a payment card—so you're not stuck with just one option.
The main goal? Keeping minors safer online since there aren't strong federal rules yet.
Impact on smaller platforms
Bluesky actually had to pull out of Mississippi earlier because their law demanded full user verification—something too complex for a smaller startup.
These kinds of laws can slow down growth and make it harder for new platforms to compete with giants like Meta.
The Ohio rollout also follows Bluesky tightening its moderation rules against harassment and toxic behavior.