Bill to ban social media for children under 16
FLORIDA’S Republican-controlled legislature has passed legislation that would ban children ages 16 and younger from social media platforms in a move that supporters have said would protect young people from online risks to their mental health.
The measure, which now goes to the desk of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, would require social media platforms to terminate the accounts of anyone under 17 years old and use a third-party verification system to screen out those who are underage.
The measure was passed by Florida House of Representatives in a vote of 108-7 on Thursday, just hours after the state Senate gave final approval.
Mr DeSantis, who has not indicated whether he will sign the measure, last month expressed concerns about its potential infringement on privacy rights. A spokesperson for his office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
Supporters have said the legislation would protect children from the harmful effects of social media on the wellbeing of those who use such platforms excessively, including anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses.
Critics have said the Bill violates the US Constitution’s First Amendment protections for free speech and that parents, not the government, should make decisions about the online presence of their children.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has opposed the legislation, saying it would limit parental discretion and raise data privacy concerns because of the personal information users would have to provide to be age-verified.