Tallahassee, Florida – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday, March 25, that will ban children under 14 from using social media in the state. This bill marks a major milestone in protecting children from the potential harms of using social media too early.
Under the new bill, social media platforms will be required to verify the age of users and close any accounts belonging to children under 14 years old. Those 14 or 15 years old will need parental consent before creating accounts and using these platforms.
The bill comes after numerous studies have shown a link between social media use among teens and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and body image disorders.
“Social media can be a valuable tool, but it can also be harmful to children,” Governor DeSantis said in a statement. “This bill will help protect Florida children from the potential harms of using social media too early.”
The new bill has received support from medical and educational organizations, as well as from many parents. However, some are concerned that this bill could violate children’s freedom of speech.
The bill will take effect from July 1, 2024.
In addition, the bill also includes the following provisions:
Social media platforms must provide users with tools to control their privacy and limit time spent using the app.
Social media platforms must prohibit cyberbullying and harassment.
Social media platforms must provide users with information about the potential harms of using social media.
Implementing this bill will be challenging, but it is an important step in protecting children from the potential harms of social media.
