Bluesky blocks Mississippi due to its new age verification law

Bluesky, a decentralized social media network, has blocked users with Mississippi IP addresses from accessing its platform due to the state's new age verification law for social networks. The law would require Bluesky to implement complex and costly verification systems, parental consent workflows, and compliance infrastructure that the small team and limited resources of the platform cannot handle. Bluesky argues that this law will entrenched existing big tech platforms while stifling innovation and competition, as only large companies can afford to meet these requirements. The platform has stated that it follows the UK's Online Safety Act, which has a different approach to age verification, and that it cannot comply with Mississippi's legislation. As a result, Bluesky will now show a message to any user accessing the service from Mississippi, explaining the reason for its unavailability in the state.