Florida Lawmakers Approve Restrictions on Children’s Access to Social Media

By Steve Gorman

The Florida House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at prohibiting children aged 16 and younger from accessing social media platforms. This move aligns with similar legislative actions in several states focusing on minimizing online risks for young teenagers.

With a bipartisan vote of 106 to 13, the bill mandates that social media companies terminate accounts for users under 17 and implement a third-party verification system to prevent underage access.

"We must address the harmful effects social media platforms have on the development and well-being of our kids," stated Florida House Speaker Paul Renner. He emphasized that the state has a strong interest and responsibility to safeguard children’s mental health and preserve their childhood.

Additionally, the legislation requires companies to permanently delete any personal information gathered from these terminated accounts and allows parents to file civil lawsuits against companies that fail to comply.

The bill is now set to be reviewed by the Florida state Senate, which is controlled by Republicans.

Supporters of the bill argue that it is crucial for protecting children from issues like depression and anxiety, which they believe are connected to excessive use of social media, often characterized by addictive features making youths particularly susceptible.

Opponents contend that the legislation is overly restrictive. Some suggest that parents should have the option to allow or disallow their children’s use of social media rather than implementing a blanket ban.

The parent company of well-known platforms like Instagram and Facebook has voiced opposition to the legislation, typically known as HB1, claiming it undermines parental control and raises data privacy issues. A representative from the company pointed out that the bill would require all new users, regardless of age, to provide potentially sensitive identification details to a third-party for age verification.

The Florida legislation does not name specific social media companies, instead defining a social media platform as any online forum that monitors user activities by allowing the creation of profiles, content sharing, and interaction with other users. It highlights various social media design features that can be "addictive, harmful, or deceptive," contributing to an excessive need to engage with the platform.

However, the bill excludes websites and applications primarily centered on email, messaging, streaming services, news, sports, entertainment, online shopping, gaming, and educational resources.

Utah was the first state in the U.S. to enact laws regulating children’s access to social media in March 2023, with others like Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas following suit. Many additional states are also considering similar regulations.

In 2015, the European Union established a law requiring parental consent for children to access social media platforms.