Gov. A bill that prohibits the majority of children from using social media sites was signed by Ron DeSantis on Monday, sparking a legal battle that could stop the invoice from ever being implemented.
House Bill 3,  , passed by lawmakers , with bipartisan support this quarter, forbids boys 13 and younger from creating social media records and requires the programs to seek out and reduce their information. Kids 14 and 15 may have relatives ‘ acceptance.
Additionally, the law requires all visitors to show their era before viewing content, making it necessary for all minors to be able to access adult websites.
Florida joins a number of other states, starting with California and then moving up to Arkansas, that have put similar restrictions on kids ‘ use of social media in response to rising teen suicide rates and depression.
None of those states ‘ bans have already taken effect, yet. A coalition of social media companies, including Meta and TikTok,  , have sued, claiming the restrictions violate children ‘ First Amendment right to free speech.
It’s no distinct which advertising websites may be affected by Florida’s policy, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
At least 10 % of people are children under the age of 16 who spend at least two hours per day on the system, as defined by HB 3 , which applies to websites that have “addictive features” like eternal scrolling and push emails.
According to the law, those systems must immediately remove the balances of users it” treats or categorizes as belonging” to a person under the age of 14.
Legislators anticipate that the policy will been challenged in court. House Speaker Paul Renner, who prioritized the bill this year, predicted that NetChoice, a social media platform, would file a lawsuit immediately after it is signed.
” You know what? We’re going to hit’ em”, Renner said.
Carl Szabo, NetChoice vice president and general counsel, called HB 3″ an unconstitutional law ( that ) will protect exactly zero Floridians”.
” We’re disappointed to discover Gov. DeSantis mark onto this route”, Szabo said in a statement Monday. There are better ways to protect Citizens, their households, and their website privacy without compromising those rights.
Additionally, politicians are anticipating a challenge to the section of the expenses that would prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from accessing adult sites. The bill mandates that those websites use private third-party era verification software, which might require visitors to display a government ID or undergo a physical scan.
The business Pornhub  blocked Texas people from accessing its site after a federal appeals court upheld Texas ‘ age verification legislation this month.
Combining safety and free conversation
DeSantis said he and his family have been considering whether to use social media and devices for their own youngsters. As a family of three young children, DeSantis said. He pointed out that lawmakers last month forbid the use of mobile phones during instruction unless a professor permits their use.
” It’s created great dilemmas”, DeSantis said of social media on Monday.
The policy demonstrates how difficult it is for legislators to defend children online without going against the law.
Teenage anxiety and depression have increased as has the occurrence of social media, and some studies have suggested that prolonged social media use leads to worse emotional health. U. S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy , warned about the effects , of social media apply last month.
However,  , experts say , there is little information indicating that one is causing the another.
Politicians have used damning speech against social media platforms, calling them “digital fentanyl”. On Monday, Renner accused for systems of engaging in “digital prostitution” of kids.
Politicians previously wanted a blanket ban on all children under 16 from accessing social advertising, but , DeSantis vetoed the legislation , over legal questions and concerns that it took right away from relatives.
Legislators have acknowledged that kids benefit from using social media sites. During testimony, teens told how they communicated with their friends online or set up businesses.
Free speech organizations, including PEN America, criticized the bill as a First Amendment violation and urged DeSantis to veto it. Over the years, federal judges have slashed similar restrictions on books, video games, and the internet, even when those laws were passed to protect children.
In a statement earlier this month, PEN America Florida Director Katie Blankenship stated that the Constitution does not have the authority to dictate the ideas and information that parents may choose to allow their families to access. ” This bill is a blatant act of government overreach”.
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