Teenagers in Florida will soon face restrictions on social media use. A new law that takes effect on January 1 prohibits children under 16 from having social media accounts. However, parents can allow their 14 and 15-year-olds to have accounts with their permission.
Before the law can be enforced, the state is preparing to defend it in federal court. Critics, including Paul Taske from NetChoice, argue that the law limits free speech. The law specifically targets social media platforms, focusing on issues like algorithms and features that can be addictive.
NetChoice is an organization that represents tech companies, including Meta (the parent company of Facebook) and X (formerly Twitter). They are challenging the law, claiming it restricts access to social media for both minors and adults, who will need to verify their ages to access certain information.
As social media becomes increasingly important in teenagers’ lives—American teens reportedly spend over four hours a day on these platforms—Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized the need for support for parents in managing their children’s use of social media when he signed the bill into law on March 25.
Florida’s Attorney General, Ashley Moody, has stated that the new law will not be enforced while it is being challenged in court. Vanessa Dennen, an education professor at Florida State University, believes that there comes a time when children need to learn how to use social media responsibly.
A hearing regarding this law is set for February 28 in federal court. Several other states have attempted to pass similar laws, but those efforts were halted by court decisions. It’s important to note that federal law already prohibits children under 13 from having social media accounts.
