Blueski will comply with the Age Verisy Act of South Dakota and Wyoming after leaving Mississippi

After blocking services over the new age insurance law in Mississippi, social networking startups are taking a different approach to complying with South Dakota and Wyoming laws. Instead of asking Bluesky to restrict access to all unverified users, users in South Dakota and Wyoming can verify their age through Kids Web Services (KWS) solutions.

This service allows users to select from multiple ways to check their age. This includes payment cards, ID documents, anonymous face scans for facial age estimation, or other options. Bluesky uses the same service and complies with the UK’s online safety laws with similar requirements.

“We believe this approach is currently struck by the right balance. Bluesky is now available to users in these states and there is no need to limit the app for everyone,” he explained in a blog post published Wednesday.

Bluesky, like everyone else, understands that the government is trying to use the internet to reduce the risks for children, but that a wide range of inadequately written laws like Mississippi has made it difficult to comply. The law would have required that all users be validated, not only those seeking access to age-restricted content, but also those seeking parental consent for users under the age of 18.

The startup previously explained that its small team lacks the resources to make the substantial technical changes necessary to comply with Mississippi law. This led to the unfortunate decision to step down completely in the state, and large competitors like Meta continue to take control.

By comparison, Bruski said South Dakota and Wyoming laws provide a better solution.

Laws requiring age verification are expanding not only in the United States but around the world. However, given the lack of federal regulations, dozens of US states have taken matters into their own hands and enacted their own age-Verifis Act. However, when these laws target social networks, they can make it difficult for smaller players like Bluesky to compete. Privacy advocates also complain that the law increases the risk of identity theft and is generally invasive.