Attorney General Alan Wilson of South Carolina has joined a coalition of 29 states in filing a friend-of-the-court brief to support Virginia’s law requiring age verification on social media platforms. The brief argues that the First Amendment does not exempt technology companies such as Meta from being held accountable for exposing children to harmful online content.
“Our children are growing up in the Wild West of the digital age,” Attorney General Wilson said. “While Big Tech turns a blind eye, children are exposed daily to harmful and dangerous content on social media.”
The attorneys general point to increasing rates of adolescent depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and eating disorders over the past 15 years. They also cite testimony before Congress stating that more than one in four girls aged 13 to 15 have received unwanted sexual advances on Instagram.
“We have laws in place to prevent children from accessing dangerous online content,” General Wilson continued. “It is imperative that we continue to protect children in a fast-moving digital and artificial intelligence era.”
In addition to South Carolina, the brief was signed by attorneys general from Florida, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
The South Carolina Attorney General serves as the state’s chief prosecutor and legal counsel. The office oversees criminal matters and civil litigation across South Carolina and enforces laws related to securities and consumer protection. It also provides victim support services and collaborates with law enforcement agencies statewide (official website). Alan Wilson has led this office as Attorney General.
