Florida Legislature Approves Child Social Media Ban
TL/DR –
The Florida Legislature has passed a bill banning social media for kids under 16, citing concerns over addictive features and mental health. Governor Ron DeSantis expressed skepticism towards the bill, suggesting changes such as providing parents with the ability to override the ban. If the bill, known as House Bill 1, is not vetoed by Governor DeSantis, it could face legal challenges as similar laws in other states have been struck down as unconstitutional.
Florida Legislature Passes Kids’ Social Media Ban
The Florida Legislature has passed a controversial ban restricting social media use for individuals under 16, amidst concerns over mental health and addictive features. The bill was met with overwhelming approval in the House, passing 108-7.
Despite this, the future of the ban remains uncertain as Governor Ron DeSantis expressed concerns. He indicated the need for parents to have the ability to override the ban, which the current legislation doesn’t allow. “It’s still under negotiation,” DeSantis mentioned.
The legislation, known as House Bill 1, could face significant legal hurdles if not vetoed by the Governor. Social media companies have previously contested similar bans, arguing they infringe upon the constitutional rights of minors, including the right to free speech.
Should the ban come into effect, it prohibits minors from creating or possessing accounts on any social media platform with “addicting features”. These features, as defined by the bill, include infinite scrolling, push notifications, auto-playing video, and live-streaming.
The legislation would also require all social media platforms to implement third-party age verification software. This means all Floridians would need to provide proof of age, such as facial scans or ID verification, to prove they are over 16. This software would need to be U.S. based and delete the user’s information immediately after verification. Similar rules would apply to adult websites, with access granted only to those over 18.
These requirements have been deemed unconstitutional in the past, with federal courts contesting the requirement of personal information for internet access. Courts in California, Ohio and Arkansas have prevented similar bills from coming into effect due to these concerns.
The debate over the potential benefits and drawbacks of social media continues, with some acknowledging its positive aspects, such as providing a platform for teen entrepreneurship and education. However, House Speaker Paul Renner argued that the potential harms, specifically rising rates of teen depression and suicide, outweigh the benefits. “These addictive features and personalized algorithms are vials of poison,” he stated.
Opposition to the bill has grown recently, with critics arguing that the decision regarding a child’s social media use should be left to parents. “My concern is the bill replaces the parent in that the decision — replaces it with a far-reaching government edict,” expressed Senator Jay Trumbull, who was one of five Republican senators voting against the bill.
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