Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill banning children under the age of 14 using social media

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill banning children under 14 from having social media accounts in a move he claims will give parents more power to “protect” their children. .

The law would allow 14- and 15-year-olds to use platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, if they have their parents’ permission.

Once they turn 16, Floridians will be able to have and use social media freely under the new law.

Nationwide, this law could be one of the strictest bans on social media use by minors.

The law places the responsibility on social media companies to enforce the ban, and failure to do so could result in damages of between $10,000 and $50,000.

Legislation also requires apps and websites to verify age, either by the user or anonymously through a third party.

Previously, DeSantis vetoed a version of the bill that would ban anyone under 16 from accessing social media platforms, regardless of parental consent. She then reached a compromise with Florida House Speaker Paul Renner to modify the age limits.

“Social media harms children in a variety of ways,” DeSantis said as he signed the bill. “HB 3 gives parents greater ability to protect their children.”

Privacy advocates have criticized the legislation, claiming it will mean any Floridian will need an ID to access the Internet, even if they are over 16 years old.

The crackdown comes as Congress is also pushing a bill that would essentially ban TikTok from U.S. app stores if it is not sold to its Chinese parent company.

Lawmakers want TikTok to divest from the Asian country as a way to ensure the Chinese Communist Party does not compromise U.S. data through the popular video-sharing social media platform.

The House this month passed the proposal that would remove TikTok from US app stores and the Senate is now considering the same bill.

Other states have considered laws similar to the one DeSantis signed Monday.

A federal judge in Arkansas in August blocked the application of a law that would require parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts.

For years, Governor DeSantis has promoted his policies in Florida, claiming that his state is a national leader in empowering parents and protecting children.

This includes her landmark Parents’ Rights in Education Bill, which gives guardians more transparency and say in their children’s public education and specifically when it comes to teachings about sexual health and gender identity.

Many claim his policies are most harmful to at-risk youth and those who identify as LGBTQ and have accused the governor of trying to ban books that cover certain sensitive materials.

There are concerns that this new law, while under the guise of child protection, could actually strip parents of the right to decide whether or not their children can have social media accounts under the age of 14.

The latest law would go into effect on January 1, 2025 and is intended to be a way to protect children from harmful people and materials online.

“The Internet has become a dark alley for our children, where predators target them and dangerous social media leads to higher rates of depression, self-harm and even suicide,” spokesperson Renner said.

“Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ signature, Florida is leading the way in protecting children online as states across the country fight to address these dangers.”

Beyond prohibiting minors under 14 from having their own social media account and minors under 16 from having one without parental consent, HB 3 also requires pornographic websites to use age verification to prevent minors from access said content.