Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed into law a bill aimed at restricting minors’ access to social media platforms, citing concerns over their potential harm to children’s well-being. The legislation, known as House Bill 3, prohibits minors under the age of 14 from having social media accounts altogether.
For teenagers aged 14 and 15, parental permission is now required to create accounts on platforms like Meta Platforms Inc. and TikTok Inc. Additionally, all social media users in Florida must now verify their ages by submitting identification documents, irrespective of their age.
Governor DeSantis emphasized the importance of parental oversight in protecting children from the negative impacts of social media. However, this move is part of a broader nationwide trend as other states like Arkansas and Ohio have also implemented similar laws, albeit facing legal challenges.
The legislation has drawn criticism from industry groups like Netchoice, which represents companies including Meta, TikTok, and Google. They argue that the law infringes on First Amendment rights and could compromise users’ privacy by mandating the submission of sensitive personal information.
While Meta has advocated for national legislation regarding teenage users instead of piecemeal state laws, it has yet to comment specifically on the Florida law. Similarly, TikTok and Alphabet have not responded to requests for comment.
Furthermore, the Florida law extends its restrictions to 13-year-olds, aligning with existing regulations that limit internet access for children under 13. Although there have been discussions in Congress about raising the age restrictions, concrete legislative action on a federal level has yet to materialize.
