Florida will have one of the country’s most restrictive social media bans for minors — if it withstands expected legal challenges — under a bill signed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday. The bill will ban social media accounts for children under 14 and require parental permission for 15- and 16-year-olds. It was slightly watered down from a proposal DeSantis vetoed earlier this month, a week before the annual legislative session ended. The new law was Republican Speaker Paul Renner’s top legislative priority. It takes effect Jan. 1.
Quick Read
- New Social Media Restrictions in Florida: Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill introducing strict social media regulations for minors, setting age limits and parental permission requirements.
- Legislative Background: The bill, a top priority for Republican Speaker Paul Renner, was revised from an earlier version vetoed by DeSantis, addressing concerns to reach a compromise.
- Implementation Date: The new regulations are scheduled to take effect starting January 1.
- Rationale for the Bill: Proponents argue that the legislation is necessary to protect minors from the addictive aspects of social media, citing developmental vulnerabilities.
- Legal Challenges Anticipated: Both supporters and Governor DeSantis expect the law to face legal scrutiny, particularly regarding First Amendment rights, but express confidence in its constitutionality.
- Comparative Legislation: Similar laws in other states, like Arkansas, have faced legal obstacles, with courts blocking enforcement based on constitutional grounds.
- Support and Opposition: While the bill passed with significant support, including some bipartisan backing, critics argue it infringes on parental rights and constitutional freedoms, advocating for alternative approaches to address social media’s impact on minors.
The Associated Press has the story:
Florida’s DeSantis signs 1 of US’ most restrictive social media bans for minors
Newslooks- TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) —
Florida will have one of the country’s most restrictive social media bans for minors — if it withstands expected legal challenges — under a bill signed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday. The bill will ban social media accounts for children under 14 and require parental permission for 15- and 16-year-olds. It was slightly watered down from a proposal DeSantis vetoed earlier this month, a week before the annual legislative session ended. The new law was Republican Speaker Paul Renner’s top legislative priority. It takes effect Jan. 1.
“A child in their brain development doesn’t have the ability to know that they’re being sucked into these addictive technologies and to see the harm and step away from it, and because of that we have to step in for them,” Renner said at the bill-signing ceremony held at a Jacksonville school.
The bill DeSantis vetoed would have banned minors under 16 from popular social media platforms regardless of parental consent. But before the veto, he worked out compromise language with Renner to alleviate the governor’s concerns and the Legislature sent DeSantis a second bill.
Several states have considered similar legislation. In Arkansas, a federal judge blocked enforcement of a law in August that required parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts.
Supporters in Florida hope the bill will withstand legal challenges because it would ban social media formats based on addictive features such as notification alerts and auto-play videos, rather than on their content.
Renner said he expects social media companies to “sue the second after this is signed. But you know what? We’re going to beat them. We’re going to beat them and we’re never, ever going to stop.”
DeSantis also acknowledged the law will be challenged on First Amendment issues, and bemoaned the fact the “Stop Woke Act” he signed into law two years ago was recently struck down by an appeals court with a majority of Republican-appointed judges. They ruled it violated free speech rights by banning private business from including discussions about racial inequality in employee training.
“Any time I see a bill, if I don’t think it’s constitutional, I veto it,” said DeSantis, a lawyer, expressing confidence that the social media ban will be upheld. “We not only satisfied me, but we also satisfied, I think, a fair application of the law and Constitution.”
The bill overwhelmingly passed both chambers, with some Democrats joining a majority of Republicans who supported the measure. Opponents argued it is unconstitutional and government shouldn’t interfere with decisions parents make with their children.
“This bill goes too far in taking away parents’ rights,” Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani said in a news release. “Instead of banning social media access, it would be better to ensure improved parental oversight tools, improved access to data to stop bad actors, alongside major investments in Florida’s mental health systems and programs.”
