Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a bill on Monday that prohibits kids under the age of 14 from using social media and mandates that 14 and 15-year-olds obtain parental approval. Supporters of the bill argue that these measures will shield the younger generation from internet hazards to their mental health.
In one of the strictest measures to limit minors' access to social media, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation on Monday that forbids those under the age of 14 from having social media accounts, even with parental approval.
Social media companies are required by law to delete the accounts of users under the age of 14 and those under the age of 16 who do not have parental permission. In order to exclude minors, they must employ a third-party verification mechanism.
The regulation targets social media sites that rely on features like autoplay videos and notification alerts that promote compulsive viewing, but it doesn't name individual platforms.
Legislators have cited new research showing a connection between young adults' usage of social media and an increased risk of depression and other mental health issues. Additionally, it may leave individuals open to harassment and predatory behavior online.
The parent firm of Instagram and Facebook, Meta, opposed the law, claiming that users' personal information required for age verification would raise concerns about data privacy and limit parental discretion.
According to Meta, it supports federal legislation and creates a new tab for online app shops to obtain parental consent before allowing children to download content.
The law permits parents to file legal actions against social media corporations that fail to completely remove personal data gathered from closed accounts.
According to a legislative analysis done for the Florida bill, Utah became the first US state to pass laws restricting children's access to social media in March 2023. Other states that followed included Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas.
According to the research, many other states were considering enacting laws along these lines.
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