Navigating New State Laws
Decentralized social platform Bluesky has confirmed it will begin implementing age verification requirements for users in Wyoming and South Dakota. The move comes as the company adapts to local statutes on online safety and social media access.
This decision ensures Bluesky remains available in these states, in contrast to its recent withdrawal from Mississippi due to compliance challenges.
Official Statement from Bluesky
In a public announcement released Wednesday, the company explained:
“Bluesky users in South Dakota and Wyoming can choose from multiple methods to verify their age. We believe this approach currently strikes the right balance. Bluesky will remain available to users in these states, and we will not need to restrict the app for everyone.”
The company also reassured its community:
“We’re committed to keeping our users informed as we navigate these new regulations.”
Technology Behind the Verification
To meet legal requirements, Bluesky is adopting Kids Web Services (KWS), an age assurance tool created by Epic Games, the developer of the globally popular video game Fortnite.
This partnership reflects a broader industry trend of leveraging existing gaming and tech infrastructure to meet regulatory standards in social media environments.
Mississippi Ban
Last month, Bluesky announced it would block access for Mississippi-based IP addresses due to that state’s controversial age verification law for social media platforms. The legislation is currently at the center of federal court litigation, highlighting the ongoing tension between state-level safety laws and digital platform freedoms.
Adult Industry Significance
Bluesky has grown in popularity among adult content creators and studios thanks to its comparatively lenient policies on nudity and explicit material. These new verification requirements may shape how adult creators interact with their audiences in regulated states, potentially influencing subscription models and community guidelines moving forward.
Balancing Access and Compliance
With its new approach in Wyoming and South Dakota, Bluesky signals a middle ground strategy: complying with legal mandates while striving to keep the platform accessible to its community.
As more U.S. states pass social media age verification laws, companies like Bluesky face mounting pressure to adapt—making the balance between compliance, user privacy, and platform freedom a defining challenge for the years ahead. This news are based on AVNnews and Bluesky.
