Florida Governor Signs Bill Restricting Social Media Access for Children

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill aimed at safeguarding children's mental health by restricting their access to social media platforms. The legislation prohibits children under 14 from using social media and mandates parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds. 

Florida Governor Signs Bill Restricting Social Media Access for Children

Initially, the bill proposed a complete ban on social media use for individuals under 16. However, amendments were made to allow parental consent for older minors. The law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025.

Governor DeSantis emphasized the negative impact of excessive social media usage on children's mental health and stressed that the legislation empowers parents to oversee their children's online activities. “Social media harms children in a variety of ways,” DeSantis said in a statement.

Furthermore, exceptions are made for platforms primarily used for email, messaging, or texting. 

Key provisions of the bill include:

Age Restrictions: 

Children under 14 are banned from social media platforms, while those aged 14 and 15 require parental consent to use them.

Account Termination: 

Social media platforms must terminate the accounts of users under 14 and those aged 14 to 16 without parental consent.

Verification System: 

Platforms are required to implement a third-party verification system to prevent underage users from accessing their services.

Critics Contend That the Legislation Infringes Upon Free Speech Rights Protected

Supporters of the bill argue that excessive social media use can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among children. On the other hand, critics contend that the legislation infringes upon free speech rights protected by the First Amendment and should be a matter of parental discretion rather than government regulation.

The bill targets social media platforms featuring "infinite scrolling," reaction metrics like likes, auto-play videos, live-streaming, and push notifications.

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, opposed the bill, citing concerns about parental discretion and data privacy. The company advocates for federal legislation to secure parental approval for children's app downloads.

Social media companies must delete personal information from terminated accounts and are subject to civil lawsuits for non-compliance. 

Also, several other states have implemented or are considering similar regulations to address children's access to social media.