Virginia appeals injunction against social media time limit for children

By Jonathan Stempel

March ‌3 (Reuters) - Virginia ​has ​appealed a judge's preliminary injunction against a state law limiting children under 16 ‌to one hour of social media use ⁠a day.

In a Tuesday court filing, the state said it ‌will ask the 4th ‌U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, to set aside the February 27 injunction ​from U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles in Alexandria.

Signed by then-Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin last ⁠May, the law was intended to shield children from the "addictive" components ​of social media and protect children's mental health.

The law also required all users ​to verify their ages. It ‌had taken effect on January 1.

NetChoice, a trade group with dozens of ⁠members including Google, Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms and Elon Musk's X, said the law violated ⁠the First Amendment by restricting access to constitutionally protected speech, ​a job best left to parents.

Giles, an appointee of former Democratic President Joe Biden, said Virginia had a ‌compelling interest in protecting children from social media addiction, but the state ‌went too far.

The appeals court will assess whether ⁠NetChoice is likely to ‌succeed on the ​merits of its claims.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Daniel ‌Wallis)

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