Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill banning children under the age of 14 from social media platforms and requiring parental consent for 14 and 15-year-olds. The legislation aims to protect children from potential online risks that could affect their mental health. Social media platforms are now required to terminate the accounts of individuals under 14 and those under 16 without parental consent, using a third-party verification system to prevent underage users.
The initial bill passed by the Republican-led Florida legislature sought to ban children under 16 from social media altogether, but Governor DeSantis vetoed it, citing concerns about limiting parental rights. The amended version, set to become law on July 1, allows parents to provide consent for older children to use social media platforms. DeSantis stated that social media can harm children in various ways and that this legislation gives parents more control to protect their children.
Supporters of the bill believe it will help prevent the negative impact of excessive social media use on children’s well-being, such as anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Critics argue that the legislation infringes on free speech protections under the First Amendment and that parents should be the ones making decisions about their children’s online activities. Meta, the parent company of social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, opposed the bill, citing concerns about limiting parental discretion and raising data privacy issues.
The bill does not specifically target any social media platforms by name but focuses on sites with features like infinite scrolling, likes, auto-play videos, live-streaming, and push notifications. Websites and apps mainly used for email, messaging, or texting are exempted from the legislation. Social media companies are required to delete personal information from terminated accounts and face potential civil lawsuits if they fail to comply. Florida follows other states like Utah, Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas in enacting laws to regulate children’s access to social media, with more states considering similar regulations.
In March 2023, Utah became the first state to regulate children’s access to social media, with other states following suit, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas. A legislative analysis for the Florida bill outlined numerous other states considering similar regulations. The legislation in Florida and other states is in response to growing concerns about the negative impact of social media on children’s mental health. The move to restrict underage access to social media and promote parental consent reflects a broader national conversation about how best to protect children in the digital age.
