Minnesota Delays Enforcement of Social Media Law

Minnesota has postponed the enforcement of its Prohibiting Social Media Manipulation Act, following legal challenges from NetChoice, a trade group representing major platforms including Google, Meta, and Snap. The law, passed last year, requires social media companies to disclose how their recommendation algorithms operate and place limits on engagement practices. 

NetChoice argues that the disclosure requirements violate First Amendment rights, positioning algorithms as both editorial decisions and proprietary trade secrets. Court filings indicate enforcement will be on hold until at least 2026 while the case proceeds. 

Why this matters for pharma media 

Pharmaceutical marketers rely heavily on social platforms to engage healthcare professionals (HCPs), patients, and caregivers. Any legislation that reshapes how algorithms operate – or forces transparency into how content is ranked and recommended – could influence how campaigns are targeted, measured, and optimized. 

1. Impact on targeting and visibility
   If algorithms are forced into greater transparency or modified under regulation, pharma advertisers may face changes in how disease awareness, unbranded campaigns, or educational content are surfaced. 
2. Compliance and oversight
   Pharma media teams already operate within strict MLR (medical-legal-regulatory) frameworks. Additional state-level rules on algorithm disclosure could create new layers of compliance complexity, particularly if social platforms adopt different...