Bluesky Goes Dark in Mississippi Over Age Verification Law

[demmiblue]

Source: Wired

PEOPLE IN MISSISSIPPI can no longer use the social media platform Bluesky. The company announced Friday that it will be blocking all IP addresses within Mississippi for the foreseeable future in response to a recent US Supreme Court decision that allows the state to enforce strict age verification for social media platforms.

According to Bluesky, Mississippi’s approach to verification “would fundamentally change” how users access the site. “We think this law creates challenges that go beyond its child safety goals, and creates significant barriers that limit free speech and disproportionately harm smaller platforms and emerging technologies,” the Bluesky team said in its statement.

Bluesky did not respond to a request for comment.

The company says that compliance with Mississippi’s law—which would require identifying and tracking all users under 18, in addition to asking every user for sensitive personal information to verify their age—is not possible with the team’s current resources and infrastructure. By not complying with the law, Bluesky could face fines of up to $10,000 per violation. It is the first major social media platform to take such drastic steps in response to the law.

Read more: https://www.wired.com/story/bluesky-goes-dark-in-mississippi-age-verification/

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. This is BULLSHIT

So red states are going to silence Patriots, big surprise

[Polybius]

11. In this case, it's Bluesky itself

The company announced Friday that it will be blocking all IP addresses within Mississippi for the foreseeable future in response to a recent US Supreme Court decision that allows the state to enforce strict age verification for social media platforms.

[msongs]

2. so are twitter, porn sites and republican sites gonna pay this? nt

[mdbl]

3. Those other sites have a system in place for age verification

Bluesky doesn't.

[Shipwack]

12. Porn sites also have a viable financial plan...

I don’t think BlueSky is profitable yet.

[mdbl]

18. Probably true. My comment though wasn't a criticism

I hope Bluesky remains as it is if it can eke by financially.

[Shipwack]

21. Understood. I didn't take it that way...

I too am hoping BlueSky stays around.

[OC375]

4. Huh?

Even 2-bit brick and mortar vape stores with an online presence have age verification. Don't get me wrong - It's a BS law - but I also don't understand what "infrastructure" deficiencies could block them from getting one of the many "software as a service" outfits to provide the verification service. Bluesky isn't exactly small potatoes; their valuation is ~$700 million.

[reACTIONary]

7. Google told me this....

Mississippi's age verification laws are significantly broader and more stringent than the current federal requirements, which are much more limited in scope. Federal law does not impose a single, uniform age verification framework for all online platforms. In contrast, Mississippi is among a growing number of states enacting specific, and often more burdensome, verification standards for websites and social media.

[BradBo]

5. Every major SM platform will need to go the way of BlueSky in Mississippi.

[The Wizard]

6. It's the poorest state

for good cause. They haven't a clue that the welfare they use to survive is a government program. End Civil War reconstruction now.

[reACTIONary]

8. Here is Blue Sky's response...

https://bsky.social/about/blog/08-22-2025-mississippi-hb1126

Our Concerns About Mississippi’s Approach

While we share the goal of protecting young people online, we have concerns about this law’s implementation:

Broad scope: The law requires age verification for all users, not just those accessing age-restricted content, which affects the ability of everyone in Mississippi to use Bluesky.

Barriers to innovation: The compliance requirements disadvantage newer and smaller platforms like Bluesky, which do not have the luxury of big teams to build the necessary tooling. The law makes it harder for people to engage in free expression and chills the opportunity to communicate in new ways.

Privacy implications: The law requires collecting and storing sensitive personal information from all users, including detailed tracking of minors.

[FakeNoose]

9. Is Mississippi doing the same thing on Xwitter? How about Tiktok? Or Reddit or 4chan?

Yeah, I didn't think so. Yep, it's total bullshit.

[intheflow]

20. Mississippi isn't shuttering Bluesky, it's Bluesky's decision.

Basically, a boycott of Mississippi over all-age privacy concerns.

[Dave Bowman]

10. It proves that the maggats are terrified by Bluesky. It will happen in other red states, IMHO.

What a bunch of cowards.

[OldBaldy1701E]

22. That was the REAL reason behind that crap.

They don't give one shit about 'the kids'.

[JoseBalow]

13. VPN

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=free+vpn

[Wonder Why]

14. Mississippi has gone dark, not Blue Sky but then again, Mississippi has always been in the Dark Ages.

[summer_in_TX]

15. Bluesky is not large, doesn't sell ads, and doesn't have paid memberships.

Last edited Tue Aug 26, 2025, 12:42 AM - Edit history (1)

So it's not clear to me how it stays funded. It's a wonderful platform, and I'd gladly pay a monthly membership fee.

• No algorithms pushing sensational content.
• Almost completely self-control of our personal algorithm - except for the Discover feed, which you can get rid of.
• Filters can suit your own interests (I don't see much about crypto or AI for example, unless it's an article by someone I follow). I don't have to block people hardly ever, because I can filter out by words or terms, like typical anti-trans or pro-Trump content.
• No ads

Bluesky and Substack are my two go-to's for discussions and great articles.

[Seeking Serenity]

23. Most likely, people that we say shouldn't exist, that is, billionaires (or at least one) keep it funded

Probably get a tax deduction for doing it, too.

Yay, billionaires!

[Grins]

16. Mr. Musk....what were you saying about free speech and censorship...! NM

[HarryM]

17. This is what happens when

Lawmakers do not have a clue as to the technology. It is so simple to fake your age and location today, it’s laughable. Start with a VPN add stock photos fake ID, and there you go.
But the folks making the law have a hard time spelling the word Internet, let alone knowing how it works.

[JohnnyRingo]

19. Blame the voters in Mississippi.

There will be no age verification laws in states that elect sane representatives. At least for now.

Of course if voters want the state to babysit their children for them they should be thrilled with this and re-election is certain.