(CMR) Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday that will prohibit children younger than 14 from joining social media in the state. Teens 14 and 15 will need a parent’s consent before they join a platform.
According to NBC News, bill HB3 requires social media companies to remove the existing accounts of users who are under 14 years of age. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in a lawsuit being filed against the company on behalf of the child who created the account. In such a case, the minor could receive up to $10,000 in damages as per the provisions of the bill.
A violation of the law could also result in the company being held liable for up to $50,000 per violation, along with attorney's fees and court costs.
“Ultimately, [we’re] trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids, and so I appreciate the work that’s been put in,” DeSantis said in remarks during the bill-signing ceremony.
Governor DeSantis had previously rejected a bill that was even more restrictive than the current one. The previous bill aimed to prohibit social media accounts for children aged below 16 and also required Florida residents to provide an ID or other identification materials before joining any social media platform.
The new law is slated to take effect in January 2025, as efforts to regulate social media continue across the U.S. amid concerns from some parents that the platforms don’t do enough to keep their kids safe online.
In December, more than 200 organizations sent a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to schedule a vote on the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, which seeks to create liability, or a “duty of care,” for apps and online platforms that recommend content to minors that can negatively affect their mental health.
In January, lawmakers questioned the CEOs of TikTok, X, and Meta about online child safety. The tech executives reiterated their dedication to ensuring child safety and cited several tools they offer as examples of their proactive approach to preventing online exploitation.
NBC reported that Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and other advocates of the new law argue that social media use can harm children’s mental health and can lead to sexual predators communicating with minors.
“None of us can afford to be on the sidelines when it comes to social media,” Renner said in remarks made at the bill signing.
Several states have enacted similar laws to limit teen social media use; however, they have been challenged by NetChoice LLC, a coalition of social media platforms whose members include Meta, Google and X, among others.
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