Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has taken a significant step by signing a newly passed bill into law, effectively prohibiting children under the age of 14 from having their own social media accounts, as disclosed in a recent news release from the governor’s office. However, individuals aged 14 and 15 will be permitted to create accounts with parental consent.
Beyond addressing social media access for minors, this legislation also imposes restrictions on pornographic websites. The bill, identified as HB 3, mandates age verification for individuals visiting sexually explicit websites, with its enforcement slated to commence on January 1, 2025.
This move positions Florida among several other states that have recently enacted laws aimed at regulating young Americans’ access to social media platforms. Consequently, legal challenges akin to those encountered in other jurisdictions are expected to emerge.
States such as Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Ohio, and Utah have introduced similar bills targeting tech platforms. Notably, a federal judge temporarily halted Ohio’s law in February due to concerns regarding its scope and potential infringement on teens’ First Amendment rights to access online information. Similarly, last year, another federal judge temporarily blocked Arkansas’ law.
Governor DeSantis previously vetoed an earlier version of the Florida legislation, expressing his desire to ensure that any enacted law adequately involves parents in decisions concerning their children’s social media usage.
