Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill prohibiting children under 14 from using social media platforms and requiring parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds, Reuters reports.
The law, effective January 1, 2025, aims to protect children from the negative impacts of excessive social media use on mental health. Social media companies must terminate accounts of underage users and use third-party verification systems. Originally, the bill proposed banning children under 16 from social media entirely, but DeSantis vetoed it, citing parental rights.
Critics argue it violates free speech rights and parental autonomy. Meta opposed the legislation, citing privacy concerns and supporting federal parental approval legislation.
