TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) - Teenagers across Florida will be kicked off social media at the end of the month. A new law banning kids under 16 from having social media accounts takes effect January 1. The law allows parents to give their children and social media companies permission if they are 14 or 15 years old.
As expected, the state is having to defend the new law in federal court before actually enforcing it.
“The law restricts access to free speech,” NetChoice’s Associate Director of Litigation Paul Taske said.
The law prevents children under the age of 16 from opening social media accounts on some platforms, focusing on criteria related to such things as algorithms and “addictive features.” Parents can allow 14 and 15 year olds to have accounts.
Taske said Florida’s minor social media ban is one of the most restrictive in the country.
NetChoice is an association of tech companies, including Facebook’s parent company Meta and “X.” It is challenging the law.
“It restricts access to social media websites by minors and adults who have to verify their ages in order to access lawful information,” Taske said.
It comes as social media is becoming a larger part of many teenagers' lives these days. A Gallop poll found that American teens spend more than four hours a day on social media.
“Trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said when he signed the bill into law on March 25.
Attorney General Ashley Moody has agreed not to enforce the new law while the challenge is being played out in court.
Florida State University education professor Vanessa Dennen said there does come a point where kids need to integrate social media.
“We still have to deal with what happens when people are finally old enough to access it. And that’s all about learning,” Dennen said.
A hearing in Federal Court over this law is scheduled for February 28.
Several other states passed similar laws but those were struck down in court. Federal law doesn’t allow kids under 13 to have social media accounts.
www.wctv.tv
As expected, the state is having to defend the new law in federal court before actually enforcing it.
“The law restricts access to free speech,” NetChoice’s Associate Director of Litigation Paul Taske said.
The law prevents children under the age of 16 from opening social media accounts on some platforms, focusing on criteria related to such things as algorithms and “addictive features.” Parents can allow 14 and 15 year olds to have accounts.
Taske said Florida’s minor social media ban is one of the most restrictive in the country.
NetChoice is an association of tech companies, including Facebook’s parent company Meta and “X.” It is challenging the law.
“It restricts access to social media websites by minors and adults who have to verify their ages in order to access lawful information,” Taske said.
It comes as social media is becoming a larger part of many teenagers' lives these days. A Gallop poll found that American teens spend more than four hours a day on social media.
“Trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said when he signed the bill into law on March 25.
Attorney General Ashley Moody has agreed not to enforce the new law while the challenge is being played out in court.
Florida State University education professor Vanessa Dennen said there does come a point where kids need to integrate social media.
“We still have to deal with what happens when people are finally old enough to access it. And that’s all about learning,” Dennen said.
A hearing in Federal Court over this law is scheduled for February 28.
Several other states passed similar laws but those were struck down in court. Federal law doesn’t allow kids under 13 to have social media accounts.
Florida’s social media bans for minors to take effect Jan. 1
The new law allows parents to give their children and social media companies permission if they are 14- and 15-year-olds.
www.wctv.tv
