Legislators in the Florida House of Representatives have approved what could be the strictest regulation on social media and children in the country. The proposed Florida House Bill 1 would prohibit children under the age of 16 from using most social media platforms, regardless of parental approval.
The bill targets social media platforms that track user activity, allow children to upload content, or use addictive features designed to cause compulsive use. It passed in the House by a vote of 106 to 13, with support from both Democrats and Republicans. The bill will now be considered by the Republican-controlled Senate.
State Representative Fiona McFarland, a Republican, described social media as “digital fentanyl” for kids, emphasizing the addictive nature of these platforms. Another Republican legislator, State Representative Tyler Sirois, argued that social media platforms are taking advantage of children growing up.
The bill would allow for the termination of social media accounts belonging to children under 16, including the deletion of information from existing accounts. It would also require social media sites to use reasonable age verification methods to confirm users’ ages.
Opponents of the bill argue that it infringes on First Amendment rights and parental rights. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, believes that social media regulation should be handled at the federal level and that parental approval should be sufficient for minors’ use of social media.
The legislative action in Florida comes at a time when social media companies, parents, legislators, and medical providers are grappling with how to address the impact of social media on children. Meta recently announced new safety measures aimed at teens, including restrictions on private messages from strangers and enhanced parental controls.
These discussions on social media regulation and children’s safety have gained momentum as concerns grow about the mental health impact of social media on young people. Last year, the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Surgeon General issued recommendations and advisories regarding social media use among teenagers, highlighting the need for setting time limits, parental monitoring, and addressing potential harm caused by social media.
The call for change extends beyond individual responsibility, with policymakers urged to create policies limiting access to harmful content, develop curricula on digital literacy, and increase funding for research in this area.
