Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed a bill into law on Monday that imposes stringent restrictions on social media usage for minors, setting the stage for potential legal battles. The law, effective January 1, prohibits social media accounts for children under 14 and mandates parental consent for users aged 14 and 15. This move comes after a slightly more restrictive proposal was vetoed by DeSantis earlier in the month, which would have applied the ban to all minors under 16.
The legislation, a priority for Republican Speaker Paul Renner, aims to protect young users from the addictive aspects of social media, such as notification alerts and auto-play videos, rather than focusing on the content. The expectation is that the law will face immediate legal challenges, similar to other states’ experiences with comparable measures.
Florida’s approach hopes to navigate potential First Amendment issues by targeting the mechanisms of addiction within social media platforms. This strategy is part of a broader effort to regulate digital spaces and ensure the safety of younger audiences online.
The bill received bipartisan support in Florida’s legislature, despite some opposition. Critics argue that the law infringes on constitutional rights and oversteps in dictating parental decisions regarding social media use.
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