Ohio

Emerging Action

Ohio at a glance

Ohio mandates bell-to-bell phone-free schools.
Ohio's attorney general is actively holding tech companies accountable.
Ohio has a law that requires platforms to verify ages and obtain parental consent for users under 16, but a federal court has blocked it from taking effect.
Ohio does not yet have a reasonable childhood independence law.
Ohio has not yet passed major laws that regulate harmful tech or hold companies liable.

Areas of Opportunity

Strengthening the statewide phone policy to require inaccessible storage will bring even more focus and connection back to Ohio's schools.
Passing a reasonable childhood independence law will protect Ohio's families from unfair charges of neglect.
Setting a social media age minimum of 16 with no parental consent loophole will solve the collective action problem for Ohio families.
Passing laws that address harmful social media design and AI safety will protect Ohio's kids from manipulative technology.

These opportunities are within reach for your home state. Download our policy menu, reach out to us, and reclaim childhood in Ohio.

Take Action

Dive Deeper

Childhood Development Policies

Is the state helping to solve the collective action problems families face by adopting policies that support a healthier real-world childhood?

Distraction-Free Schools
Ohio mandates bell-to-bell phone-free schools, though it does not require inaccessible storage. View the state’s Phone-Free Schools Report Card.
Childhood Independence
Ohio does not yet have a reasonable childhood independence law, leaving too much discretion to the authorities and putting parents at risk of unfair neglect charges.

Political Leadership

Is the governor championing kids' safety, and is the Office of the Attorney General using its power to hold big tech accountable?

Attorney General Leadership
Attorney General Dave Yost has been active on tech accountability, joining the multistate lawsuit against Meta and calling for action on kids’ online safety. Ohio led the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) Letter and signed the AI Child Safety Letter, the AI Local Authority Letter, and the AI Chatbot Safety Letter.

Tech Policies

What is the state doing to address harmful tech and hold companies accountable?

Social Media Age Limits
Ohio’s Parental Notification by Social Media Operators Act requires social media platforms to verify ages, obtain parental consent for users under 16, and provide parents with methods to monitor their child's account, but a federal court has blocked the law from taking effect. The Attorney General’s Office is currently appealing the decision.
The law doesn't set a minimum age for social media accounts and has a parental consent loophole, leaving the collective action problem for families unresolved.
Regulating Harmful Design
Ohio has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.
Holding Tech Companies Accountable
Ohio has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.
Incentivizing Safer Tech
Ohio has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.

Family Perceptions

What do parents in the state say about their children's tech use, opportunities for independence, and real-life interactions?

IFS Resilient Childhood Score
Low. Ohio parents report that their kids experience:
- Low levels of independent, unsupervised activity
- Minimal time spent playing outside and socializing with friends
- High screen time, device ownership, and tech use

This page was last updated on March 4, 2026. The Childhood Index highlights key policies and actions and is not intended to be a comprehensive list. If there’s something you think we missed or should consider, we welcome your feedback.