Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that could enact “the most restrictive measure in the country social media bans for minors,” according to AP News.
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More details on the social media bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis
According to the outlet, Governor DeSantis signed the bill on Monday, March 25. If the bill proceeds without legal challenges, it would ban social media accounts for children under 14 in the state.
Additionally, parental permission will be required for children aged 14 or 15 interested in joining a social platform, e.g. NBC News. The media outlet adds that social media companies will be instructed to delete accounts of children under 14. If they fail to do so, the company could be sued and held liable for up to $50,000 per violation.
AP News informs that the bill will come into force on January 1, 2025.
“A child’s brain development doesn’t have the ability to know they’re being sucked into these addictive technologies and to see the harm and walk away from it, and because of that we have to intervene in their place,” the Republican said. Speaker of the Chamber Paul Renner explained at the bill signing ceremony, AP News.
The media outlet adds that the bill strives to ban social media apps based on their “addictive features such as notification alerts and auto-playing videos.”
Furthermore, AP News reports that Renner and DeSantis expect the project to be challenged. DeSantis reportedly believes the bill could be “challenged on First Amendment issues.”
However, Renner reportedly noted that his efforts to support the project will not be deterred.
“(Social media companies can) process the second one after signing,” Renner said, according to the outlet. “But you know what? We’re going to beat them. We’re going to beat them and we’re never, ever going to stop.”
According to the media outlet, opponents of the project believe that it could “create substantial obstacles” in children’s access to information. Furthermore, some believe it may go “too far in taking away parental rights.”
“Instead of banning access to social media, it would be better to ensure better parental supervision tools, better access to data to stop bad actors, along with major investments in Florida’s mental health systems and programs,” said Democratic Representative Anna Eskamani .
VIDEO: US state bans social networks for children under 14
The state of Florida, in the United States, banned the use of social networks by children under 14 years of age.
The ban is expected to come into force in early 2025.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday, March 25, signed a bill that… pic.twitter.com/cdzeVmQghA
– The Nation Nigeria (@TheNationNews) March 26, 2024
Reactions on social media
Social media users have adopted Xformerly known as Twitter, to share their reaction to the bill’s signage in Florida.
wait until he finds out they can lie about their age when signing up pic.twitter.com/21O7c0Nfw9
– asc 🦥 (@ascinhiding) March 25, 2024
Children turning 15 in December reading the news 😂😭 pic.twitter.com/rZjCtTwqNG
– Mr. Khalif🇿🇦 (@IdrisKhalif) March 25, 2024
I’ll be honest, it shouldn’t be up to the government to restrict things like this.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think people under 14 should be on social media, 14+ is completely acceptable in my eyes.
BUT
It should be up to the parents. The government shouldn’t be…
-Steven “Yooper” Koehler (@xYooper_) March 25, 2024
I think we should be more concerned about the fact that these people are able to afford a house to live in pic.twitter.com/EjCev8vAK8
– 👁️Red Pill Bender💊 (@realnig300) March 25, 2024
Florida Kids Now: pic.twitter.com/fdhnF44PCW
– ViolentFights (@ViolentFight) March 25, 2024
Children in Florida RN: pic.twitter.com/m5vfKwdJ4Y
– Matt (@matt1775725420) March 25, 2024
An earlier version of the bill was vetoed
As The Shadow Room previously reported, Florida House representatives approved an earlier version of the bill in January. The bill would have prevented children under the age of 16 in the state from creating social media accounts.
In addition, it would also have ordered platforms to delete the accounts of children under 16 years of age.
According to AP News, DeSantis vetoed the bill earlier this month. The governor reportedly “had concerns about privacy issues and parental rights.” At the time, DeSantis reportedly talked about how the project would be updated.
“The Legislature is about to produce a different and superior bill,” DeSantis explained. “Protecting children from the harms associated with social media is important, as is supporting parental rights and maintaining the ability of adults to engage in anonymous speech.”
RELATED: Florida House passes bill that would ban children under 16 from using social media accounts
