Newswatch Media State-by-State
Delaware
Could new Delaware law keep names of murder suspects from the public?
August 21, 2026 05:46 AM EDT
Hockessin Community News
A new law will prevent police from releasing names and photos of people charged unless they are felonies and ID'ing them is "necessary to protect the public's safety."
Florida
TikTok and ByteDance to Pay $400M in Landmark Children's Privacy Settlement - News and Statistics - IndexBox
August 21, 2026 08:46 PM EDT
IndexBox Inc
Florida AG James Uthmeier talks about the state's lawsuit against TikTok, as the DOJ secures a $400 million settlement with TikTok and ByteDance for violating children's privacy laws, marking one of the largest COPPA settlements ever.
Georgia
Georgia man appears in federal court over social media threats to FBI official
August 21, 2026 04:01 PM EDT
Fox Television Stations, LLC.
A Georgia man appeared in federal court Thursday after allegedly posting violent threats against a former FBI official on social media.
Kansas
Kansas City moves to correct court filing that says Mayor Lucas ordered media audit
August 21, 2026 06:42 PM EDT
Yahoo! Inc.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is standing by his claim that he did not order an audit of local media coverage.
Maryland
Somerset BOE Responds to State Supt.'s Stay of New Media Policy - 47abc
August 21, 2026 05:30 PM EDT
WMDT 47 News.
SOMERSET COUNTY, Md. – The Somerset County Board of Education (BOE) is responding after the Maryland State Superintendent issued a 60-day enforcement stay on their controversial new media policy passed earlier this week. Policy 500-19 restricts access to Young Adult (YA) books in schools for students under the age of 18, and brings new disciplinary standards for school employees found...
Maryland
Maryland schools restrict phones while relying on social media themselves
August 21, 2026 02:42 PM EDT
The Baltimore Sun
A federal trial testing whether Meta designed its apps to be addictive includes a Harford County case, one of six bellwether lawsuits nationwide.
Massachusetts
The fierce attention directed at Lindsay Clancy's trial highlights risks about truth and social media
August 20, 2026 09:13 PM EDT
The E.W. Scripps Company.
While Lindsay Clancy is fighting murder charges in a Massachusetts courtroom, social media is exploding. Analysis, theories and reactions are pouring in, and not all of them are factual.
Minnesota
Minnesota vs xAI: Do we have the right to nudify?
August 21, 2026 04:06 PM EDT
americanexperiment
Women and children are being exploited through the use of AI nudification software. Could this new Minnesota law help?
Montana
Defamation Prior Restraint Ruling Blocks Injunction Bid by Montana Counsellor - Law News
August 21, 2026 09:06 AM EDT
Law News.
A defamation prior restraint ruling from the US District Court for the District of Montana has denied a Montana counsellor’s bid to silence his estranged wife on social media, with Chief Judge Brian Morris holding that enjoining her speech would constitute an impermissible prior restraint under the First Amendment. The decision in Patterson v. Patterson,
New Mexico
Meta asks New Mexico court to stay enforcement of $942 million judgment pending appeal
August 21, 2026 01:00 AM EDT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Meta owes New Mexico $942 million, including $567 million for a fund to address the harms of social media on youth.
New York
Signal Mountain fire chief resigns over social media post about New York congresswoman | Chattanooga Times Free Press
August 21, 2026 09:12 PM EDT
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Signal Mountain's fire chief has resigned, effective immediately, after a video posted to a private social media account in May came to the attention of town leaders, according to an official Signal Mountain press release.
North Dakota
North Dakota education leaders, lawmakers look to limit screen time, device use in public schools
August 21, 2026 10:39 AM EDT
The Dickinson Press.
Participants in a recent survey of more than 2,200 North Dakotans said they think technology access is important to supporting teaching and learning.
Ohio
Permission slip required? Ohio's social media law for teens stays on hold
August 21, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Cleveland Jewish News
Ohio’s effort to require parental permission before children under 16 can open social media accounts remains frozen for the time being. On Aug. 17, the U.S. Court of Appeals for
South Carolina
South Carolina Fights Back Against Media Blacklists
August 20, 2026 08:00 PM EDT
RealClear Policy
South Carolina adopts its 2026-27 budget and takes a stand against media blacklists targeting conservative news outlets.
Tennessee
It's time for Tennessee schools to go cell phone-free | Opinion
August 21, 2026 06:08 AM EDT
The Leaf-Chronicle.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn wants to ban cell phones in Tennessee schools all day to boost student mental health.
Texas
Texas lawmakers may target the features that keep kids scrolling
August 20, 2026 05:16 PM EDT
NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
Texas lawmakers want to revisit social media rules for kids and may target infinite scroll, algorithms, beauty filters and notifications.
Washington
WATCH: Washington therapist takes "counseling censorship" fight back to court
August 21, 2026 07:00 PM EDT
Starved Rock Media.
(The Center Square) - A Washington state marriage and family therapist will have another opportunity to challenge a 2018 Washington law that his attorneys contend censored his speech.
