Overview

• Users in South Dakota and Wyoming can confirm their age via Epic Games’ Kids Web Services using options such as an ID, a payment card, or a face scan.
• Direct messaging and adult content will be accessible only to verified users in those states, while unverified users can still use the service with certain features restricted.
• Bluesky says the approach mirrors its UK compliance under the Online Safety Act, which also requires age checks and content gating.
• The company previously blocked access in Mississippi, citing a law that would require universal verification and parental consent for minors, with penalties up to $10,000 per user.
• State-level rules are expanding, with 25 states passing some form of age-check requirement for adult content, and South Dakota and Wyoming’s laws lacking adult-site carveouts that could sweep in more platforms, as privacy advocates warn of invasive data collection risks.