Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday that bans children under the age of 14 from accessing social media platforms and requires teens ages 14 and 15 to get parental consent, a measure that its supporters say will protect them from mental health risks online.
The measure requires social media platforms to close the accounts of children under 14 and teenagers under 16 who do not have parental permission. It requires them to use a third-party verification system to filter out minors.
The Republican-controlled state legislature passed a bill in February that would completely ban children under 16 from accessing social media. DeSantis, also a Republican, had vetoed that bill, saying it limited parental rights.
The modified version allows parents to give consent for teens to use social media. It will come into force on January 1, 2025.
“Social media harms children in many ways,” DeSantis said in a statement. She said the legislation “will give the country greater ability to protect its children.”
Supporters say the law will limit the harmful effects of social media on the well-being of children who use these platforms excessively and who, as a result, may suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.
Critics said the bill violates the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment protections for free speech and that parents, not the government, should make decisions about their children’s online presence, regardless of age.
Source: Terra
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