A new Florida law set to take effect on January 1, 2025, is poised to significantly restrict minors’ access to social media, raising debates about privacy, free speech, and parental control. The legislation mandates strict age restrictions, account deletions, and content controls, but it is already facing multiple legal challenges.
Under the new law, children under the age of 14 are prohibited from creating social media accounts, while teens aged 14 and 15 can only use social media with parental or guardian consent. Social media platforms are required to delete accounts that do not meet these criteria and permanently erase all associated personal information within 90 days.
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Additionally, minors under 18 are restricted from accessing “materials harmful to minors,” which includes adult content, and websites must implement anonymous or third-party age verification methods to enforce these restrictions. All verification data must be deleted once the process is complete.
Noncompliance with the law could result in severe penalties for social media companies, including fines of $50,000 per violation under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Despite the law’s intended implementation date, enforcement will not begin until February 2025, as two lawsuits challenging its constitutionality make their way through the courts.
The first lawsuit, filed by tech industry groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, argues that the law infringes on First Amendment rights. A preliminary injunction hearing is set for February 28. The second lawsuit, brought by the Free Speech Coalition, claims that the age verification requirements could harm adults and restrict young people’s access to valuable educational resources.
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Ambiguity remains over which platforms the law applies to, as it defines social media platforms broadly but exempts services that solely facilitate email or direct messaging. Platforms with features such as infinite scrolling, push notifications, and live-streaming are subject to the law. However, questions about the inclusion of certain platforms persist.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers have strongly supported the legislation, emphasizing the harmful effects of social media on young users’ mental health. DeSantis highlighted studies showing teens spend an average of nine hours online daily, exceeding the time spent on education and sleep. “This law is a necessary step in safeguarding our children from harmful content and the addictive nature of social media,” DeSantis stated.
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Critics, including tech industry advocates and free speech organizations, argue the law may overreach and create unintended consequences. They warn it could limit teens’ access to critical resources and infringe on individual freedoms.
Florida’s law is one of the strictest social media regulations targeting minors in the United States and is part of a broader trend. At least 12 other states have passed similar legislation, reflecting growing bipartisan concerns about social media’s impact on youth mental health.
While the law technically goes into effect on January 1, its delayed enforcement offers time for legal proceedings to unfold. A hearing before Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker will determine whether the law will be temporarily blocked. As these debates progress, the legislation has reignited national discussions about the balance between technology, safety, and personal freedoms.
For now, Florida parents, lawmakers, and tech companies are left awaiting clarity on how this controversial law will shape the future of social media use for minors.
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