Efforts to regulate social media use among minors in Florida have taken a new direction with the recent passage of a revised bill by the Senate. This follows Gov. Ron DeSantis's veto of an earlier version of the legislation due to concerns about privacy protection.
As the legislative session nears its end, lawmakers have worked against the clock to finalize the new social media bill. The revised measure, now part of HB3, received significant support in the Senate, passing with a vote of 30-5 and advancing to the House.
Revised Bill Set to Recognize Parents' Rights
On Friday, DeSantis vetoed a comprehensive social media bill. The bill aimed to restrict Florida residents under the age of 16 from creating accounts on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, even with parental consent.
If approved, this would have been considered one of the nation's most stringent bans on minors' access to social media.
DeSantis conveyed his decision to veto the teen social media ban bill in a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter. He pointed out that the state's Legislature was on the verge of presenting a "different, superior bill" that respected parents' rights.
"Protecting children from harms associated with social media is important, as is supporting parents' rights and maintaining the ability of adults to engage in anonymous speech," he expressed. "I anticipate the new bill will recognize these priorities and will be signed into law soon."
Unlike the original proposal, the revised bill does not target specific social media platforms. Instead, it prohibits minors from accessing platforms with addictive features such as data collection algorithms and infinite scrolling.
Notably, popular platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are expected to be affected. The bill also mandates age verification for accessing pornographic websites.
The bill includes concessions to DeSantis's concerns, such as a parental consent exception for 14- and 15-year-olds. Under the revised legislation, minors aged 14 and 15 can now access social media with parental consent.
However, the bill lacks clarity on how platforms should obtain this consent, leaving companies responsible for verifying the age of account holders. Non-compliance could result in legal consequences, with parents empowered to take legal action against platforms that fail to comply.
Concerns Over Age Restrictions Persist
While the revised bill includes more parental rights, some critics argue that it does not adequately address broader issues surrounding parental control.
State Senator Tina Polsky has raised concerns about the arbitrary nature of age restrictions and called for more comprehensive solutions.
"I pay for her phone, her computer, her iPad, whatever the case may be, so I get to control that," Polsky said. "So, for the government to come in and say, no the age is 14, I think runs into all the constitutional issues we discussed."
"I still think it's a little random, only parental consent for 14 and 15-year-olds. It's just so narrow that I don't think it deals with the general issue of parental consent," she added.
However, Senator Erin Grall, the bill's sponsor, has emphasized the urgency of addressing the negative effects of social media on children's well-being. Despite differing opinions, lawmakers view the bill as a step forward in protecting minors while upholding constitutional principles.
Although tech industry groups like NetChoice have raised constitutional concerns, legislative leaders remain confident in the bill's ability to strike a balance.
As the bill moves through the House and awaits the governor's approval, the debate over social media regulation for minors highlights the complex issues involved in navigating the digital age.
