FLORIDA MOVES FORWARD ON CHILD SOCIAL MEDIA LAW
Florida has proposed implementing a new law, HB 3, aimed at keeping children off social media and blocking minors from accessing online pornography .
Three proposed rules were published by the Attorney General’s office on Tuesday, July 23rd, one of which included age verification details.
House Speaker Paul Renner prioritized the law, citing harms to children from social media.
Critics argue that it violates First Amendment rights.
The law, which will take effect Jan. 1, seeks to prevent children under age 16 from opening social media accounts on at least some platforms. However, it would allow parents to give consent for 14 and 15-year-olds to have accounts.
Children under 14 would not be permitted to open accounts. The law also requires age verification to try to prevent minors under age 18 from having access to online pornographic sites.
Violations could lead to lawsuits.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the law in late March.
Tech-industry group NetChoice claims the law is unconstitutional. Renner expects legal challenges but is confident in the law’s necessity. The proposed rules may lead to a hearing before finalization.
