Bluesky, the decentralized social network, will begin verifying user ages in Ohio on September 29 to comply with new state regulations aimed at protecting children from online risks. The platform will use Kids Web Services' (KWS) age verification solution, which is already in place in South Dakota and Wyoming. Users will be required to upload a government-issued ID or use alternative verification methods such as facial scans or payment cards. This initiative is part of a broader trend as various U.S. states enact age verification laws without federal guidance. However, these regulations could hinder smaller startups like Bluesky, which may struggle to compete with larger companies like Meta. The age verification requirement may deter new users and distract Bluesky from focusing on innovation and feature development. This announcement follows user pushback against recent moderation updates by Bluesky.