Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed into law one of the country’s most restrictive social media bans for minors. The legislation prohibits children under the age of 14 from having social media accounts and mandates parental consent for accounts belonging to those between the ages of 14 and 15. This law is planned to become operational on January 1, 2025, although it is anticipated to be met with multiple legal objections.
In a press release, DeSantis affirmed that ‘HB 3 grants parents more capacity to safeguard their offspring’. House Speaker Paul Renner, a key proponent of the legislation, likened the internet to a ‘dark alley for our children’ where dangers such as predatory behaviour and harmful social media leading to escalated levels of depression, self-harm, and occasionally, suicide, lurk.
Conversely, not everyone is supportive of the measures. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida expressed concern regarding the scope of the law, implying that it represented governmental overreach and providing a reminder that lawmakers have no power over the ones parents let their families access. The ACLU also raised fears that compulsory age verification may stifle adult speech.
NetChoice, a group with political interests that advocates for decreased online restrictions, also opposed the bill. In the words of its Vice President and General Counsel, Carl Szabo, ‘this unconstitutional law protects no one in Florida. HB 3 is also a bad policy due to the resultant data gathering on Floridians demanded of online services, risking a breach of their private data.’
The law, however, does not stop there. It also enforces social media companies to delete already existing accounts of those under the age of 14 and residing in Florida, with the companies subjected to lawsuits on behalf of the child for damages up to $10,000, if non-compliant. Moreover, companies found in violation of the law could face penalties of up to $50,000 per infringement.
It’s worth noting that a similar law was overturned in Arkansas by a Federal Appeals Court.