From California to Texas to Ohio, lawmakers are increasingly turning to age-verification requirements to protect children online. These laws target a range of concerns, with a growing body of research suggesting that certain online activities may pose risks to children’s mental health and well-being.

At the same time, privacy laws continue to proliferate across the United States, many of which emphasize data minimization and limitations on the use of sensitive personal information. This creates a growing tension. Protecting children online may require companies to collect more personal data than they otherwise would, and potentially subject themselves to additional privacy requirements and consumer concerns.