Bluesky's Exit from Mississippi: A Harbinger of Christian Nationalism and Eroding Digital Rights

Context: What Just Happened?

On August 22, 2025, Bluesky—a decentralized social platform leveraging the AT Protocol—announced it would block all users from Mississippi by IP address. The move came in response to Mississippi's new law, HB 1126: the Walker Montgomery Protecting Children Online Act, which mandates "commercially reasonable efforts" to verify users' ages, require parental consent for minors, limit data collection, and enforce content moderation for harmful material (The Verge).

A challenge to this law, NetChoice v. Fitch, is currently before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to issue an emergency injunction, allowing the law to take effect (Vox). Bluesky cited the law's sweeping requirements, significant penalties (up to $10,000 per violation), and their own limited capacity to comply as the reasons for withdrawing service (WIRED).

A Slippery Slope Towards Christian Nationalism?

Historically, the fusion of religious conservatism with political power has manifested in efforts to regulate public behavior under moral or protective pretenses. The Walker Montgomery Act, while presented as child-protective, echoes broader trends in Christian nationalist-influenced policy: leveraging state power to impose moral frameworks on public/private life. Mandating age verification and content controls extends well beyond protecting minors—it grants state oversight into personal beliefs, religious expression, political thought, and education. Critics argue that such sweeping reach risks suppressing unsanctioned discourse and disproportionately burdens smaller or independent platforms (Vox, The Washington Post).

If these kinds of laws proliferate and succeed—especially without judicial rollback—they could set precedents for other conservative-led states, leading to a fractured internet where access, speech, and privacy depend on residence and platform capacity. In this light, Bluesky’s exit may mark not just a platform’s retreat, but the beginning of digitally enshrined moral governance under Christian nationalist influence.

Why Prepare Now?

• Access to information may soon be conditional upon compliance with vague or overbroad moral standards.

• Privacy risks escalate—mandatory age checks often mean identity data collection, raising threats of leaks or misuse (WIRED, Vox).

• Free expression is endangered—even mainstream personal or political exchanges could face regulation.

• Smaller platforms will suffer—state-level regulations favor well-resourced tech giants, marginalizing emerging or decentralized networks (AP News).

Objective Legal Overview: VPN Use to Bypass Restrictions in Mississippi

Is Using a VPN Legal?

Yes—in general, it is not illegal under federal law to use a VPN to access blocked platforms. The restriction is at the state law level, binding platforms like Bluesky—not users. Unless the law specifically forbids circumventing access restrictions (which HB 1126 does not), the act of using a VPN to mask your IP is legal. There's no current Mississippi statute penalizing users for such actions.

However, users should remain aware that evasion could draw scrutiny depending on evolving enforcement trends—though at this stage, there is no criminal or civil liability for individual VPN use documented.

Step-by-Step Guide: Using a VPN to Access Social Media Without Age Verification in Mississippi

1. Choose a trusted VPN service—reputable providers include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Proton VPN, and others.

2. Install the VPN on your device (desktop, mobile, browser extension).

3. Connect to a server outside Mississippi—options include neighboring states or other U.S. locations where Bluesky remains accessible.

4. Confirm your changed IP location—use IP-check tools to ensure your virtual address isn’t Mississippi-based.

5. Open or reinstall Bluesky (or other blocked apps/services)—you should now regain access.

6. Use the platform as usual, without triggering age-verification prompts mandated in Mississippi.

Summary & Takeaway

Bluesky's withdrawal from Mississippi illustrates a critical flashpoint where state-imposed moral regulation meets digital sovereignty. If left unchecked, similar laws risk fragmenting the free and open internet, disproportionately impacting minority, dissenting, or decentralized voices. As these legislative efforts spread, digital privacy, freedom of expression, and platform diversity stand to erode—particularly for those unable or unwilling to submit to extensive verification.

A VPN remains a lawful and practical tool for maintaining access to global platforms and safeguarding individual privacy. The time to prepare is now: arm yourself with knowledge, secure your digital tools, and advocate for equitable internet policy.

References (APA Format)

• Bluesky blocks Mississippi under new age‑verification law (Bluesky blocks Mississippi under new age verification law). (2025, August 22). The Verge. (The Verge)

• Wired. (2025, August 22). Bluesky Goes Dark in Mississippi Over Age Verification Law. (WIRED)

• Times of India. (2025, August 15). Free speech clash: Supreme Court allows Mississippi’s law requiring age verification for minors; tech giants oppose mandate. (The Washington Post)

• Washington Post. (2025, August 14). Supreme Court clears way for Miss. law requiring parental consent to use social media. (The Washington Post)

• Associated Press. (2025). Court rules Mississippi's social media age verification law can go into effect. (AP News)

• Wikipedia contributors. (2025, August). Social media age verification laws in the United States. In Wikipedia. (Wikipedia)

• Wikipedia contributors. (2025, August). The Walker Montgomery Protecting Children Online Act. In Wikipedia. (Wikipedia)

• Wikipedia contributors. (2025, August). NetChoice v. Fitch. In Wikipedia. (Wikipedia)