Starting with the new year, a new law will require all companies with adult content on their websites to verify that all of their visitors are 18 years or older.

At the same time, the law will require social media platforms to find and shut down the accounts of children younger than 14. Kids who are 14- and 15-years-old will be allowed to have accounts only if they have the permission of a parent or guardian.

Attorney General Ashley Moody, however, has said the state will hold off on enforcing the new rules until late February, when the first stage of an ongoing court battle is done. The court challenge was filed by NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, whose members include several tech giants such as Meta, Pinterest and Google.