Florida bans social media for children under 14 years old

Florida's minor social media landscape is in the spotlight once again as the state is expected to implement one of the strictest bans in the country, according to a bill recently signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The bill, which is expected to withstand any legal challenges that may arise, places significant restrictions on minors' access to social media. In essence, it prohibits the creation of accounts for children under 14 years of age and requires parental consent for those 15 and 16-year-olds who wish to have a presence on online platforms.

While this measure has been seen as a significant step to protect young people from the potential harm and negative influence of social media, it is important to note that the bill was subject to modifications before its passage. Previously, DeSantis vetoed a similar proposal that would have extended the ban to age 16 without exception.

The final version of the bill was crafted in collaboration with State Rep. Paul Renner, who worked on compromise language that addressed concerns expressed by both the governor and the Legislature. This approach, while less restrictive than the initial proposal, still marks a significant milestone in the regulation of social media for minors in the state of Florida.

It is important to note that Florida is not alone in this legislative movement. Other states, such as Arkansas, have considered similar measures in the past, although they faced significant legal obstacles. In Arkansas, for example, a law requiring parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts was blocked by a federal judge last August.

Proponents of the new law in Florida argue that its approach goes beyond simply restricting account creation and specifically targets the addictive features of online platforms. This includes things like notification alerts and video auto play, which are seen as contributing factors to addiction and overconsumption of online content among young people.

With an effective date set for Jan. 1, 2025, the new law marks a turning point in the regulation of social media for minors in Florida and is likely to generate intense debate and monitoring for years to come.