On Wednesday, the Florida House of Representatives approved a new bill that prohibits minors from accessing social media until the age of 14 and requires parental authorization until the age of 16. This is a new version of the bill that Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed last Friday.
Social media companies have made BILLIONS by trapping kids and replacing parents. States around the country are fighting to deliver a solution that balances parental and constitutional rights and, most importantly, keeps our children safe. We believe we struck that balance.
— Paul Renner (@Paul_Renner) March 6, 2024
Prohibited until 14 and parental permission until 16
HB3 adds parents' consideration into the language of the bill, something that DeSantis demanded, instead of a blanket ban on minors' access to social media up to the age of 16 like the original proposal, HB1. In this version, children under the age of 14 are prevented from creating a social network account, and those aged 14-16 need parental authorization to do so. However, it adds a provision that the parents' permission is not valid in the event that a court rules that the minor's access to social media is detrimental to them.
Another aspect of HB1 that DeSantis criticized was adults losing anonymity on social media, which could be understood as an attack on freedom of speech included in the First Amendment. In addition, legislators also withdrew a provision that indicated in detail how platforms should proceed to verify the real age of users, ultimately leaving it up to these companies to choose their own verification process.
I have vetoed HB 1 because the Legislature is about to produce a different, superior bill.
Protecting children from harms associated with social media is important, as is supporting parents’ rights and maintaining the ability of adults to engage in anonymous speech.
I…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 1, 2024
Access to adult content
Another aspect included in the bill is the protection of minors under 18 years of age from adult content. Therefore, it requires sites that include "materials harmful to minors" to develop effective measures to verify age and prevent children and adolescents from accessing these pages.
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Paul Renner celebrated the approval of the bill by an overwhelming majority (109-4). Last Monday, senators also overwhelmingly supported (30-5) the text that DeSantis is expected to sign.
Social media companies have made BILLIONS by trapping kids and replacing parents. States around the country are fighting to deliver a solution that balances parental and constitutional rights and, most importantly, keeps our children safe. We believe we struck that balance.
Florida speaker invites technology companies to sue
Renner assumed that technology companies "will launch a lawsuit" as soon as the bill receives the governor's signature, and even invited these companies to do so in a post on X.
.@netchoice and Big Tech cronies will launch a lawsuit within seconds of HB3 becoming law. Not only do we expect it, we invite it!
Florida kids do not belong to you. We will not give up the fight to keep kids safe online. #FlaPol https://t.co/ns44zVI0dw
— Paul Renner (@Paul_Renner) March 2, 2024
