Florida Bans Signs Bill That Bans Underage On Social Media

[RAMROD 117,256]

 

Florida Governor Ron Desantis has signed a bill banning kids under 14 from creating a social media account, and forces platforms to delete them if they exist. 

Children’s safety on social media has been a huge concern over the last few years, with states talking about requiring stronger age verification and parental control. Florida Governor Ron Desantis is making it happen, having signed a bill on March 25, 2024, that effectively bans kids 15 years old and younger from social media.

It states children that are 14 and 15 years of age must have parental consent in order to create an account on websites like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The law also says that platforms must terminate these accounts should the teen or their parents request it to be removed from the site. If they don’t, companies can be sued on the kid’s behalf and may be liable for up to $10,000 in damages each.

 

“A social media platform shall prohibit a minor who is 14 or 15 years of age from entering into a contract with a social media platform to become an account holder, unless the minor’s parent or guardian provides consent for the minor to become an account holder,” it reads. 

For kids under the age of 14, the law requires the likes of Twitter and Meta to delete the account and create protections that prevent them from being created again until they are older. 

Nearly all social media platforms, including Twitter, Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram,and TikTok have a minimum age requirement of 13 years or older. Now that this bill has been signed, Kids in Florida will have to wait until they’re 14 years old to join social media with parental consent — or 16 without.

This new Florida law will take effect starting on January 1, 2025.

 

https://www.dexerto.com/tech/florida-governor-signs-bill-to-ban-kids-under-14-from-social-media-2610709/

[Roughhouse Dandy 13,699]

But they can work part time jobs here. Lmao alright. 

I agree with the social media thing though. 

[Bling 31,681]

I hate to say it but this is needed...

[weed 79,043]

I don't see how this will change anything considering majority of websites do not care, I literally made my Facebook in 6th grade, I said "ya I'm 18" for everything lmaoo unless they require formal ID this will not do anything. 

However the "delete my profile or I can successfully sue for $10k" is fantastic

[bionic 50,111]

Raise it to 21 and demand ID

[Pandauralife 996]

The fact that my 11-13-year-old students were telling me about watching the Drake video on Twitter is honestly kinda disturbing so I'm kinda glad this is happening. I get that where there's a will, there's a way so they'll find some way to get around this but at least they have another step to go through. I just wish the youth would pick up a book or go outside or something or do something constructive with their lives 

[androiduser 7,438]

great, so now kids won't be subjected to conservative religious homophobic content on social media

[PartySick 172,975]

I can't believe any of you think this is a good thing

Isolating kids and removing potential support systems when they're growing up in poor conditions is not only going to lead to a generation of young Floridians that are ill equipped for a world where technology is more and more prevalent in day to day life, but also where gay youth risk not finding a support system they can lean on 24/7 until they're 16.

And when queer kids are becoming suicidal as young as 11-14 years old, stripping them of a potential lifeline can be deadly. Especially in a state like Florida which is stacking laws upon laws specifically targeting the gay community and gay youth.

And finally, PROHIBITION NEVER F*CKING WORKS. EVER.

Fund schools better and make a course to teach young people how to exist and use social media responsibly. Don't just ban them 'cause that won't do a damn thing

[PartySick 172,975]

47 minutes ago, weed said:

unless they require formal ID this will not do anything. 

 

32 minutes ago, bionic said:

Raise it to 21 and demand ID

Doing this would be an even more blatant violation of the first amendment than this law already is.

[REALITY 80,176]

I'm torn about whether or not this is a good thing. I'm leaning towards no, but I do see some positives to it. I think social media can be incredibly toxic, especially for young impressionable kids—look at all these alt-right-wing conservatives and toxic masculine people like Andrew Tate. That said, I also agree with a lot of what @PartySicksaid above. There are a ton of great uses for social media, like finding support systems for young queer kids (who are especially vulnerable in Florida). 

Also though, I kinda feel like people just see the word "kid" and "teen" associated with social media and just go "YEAH, BAN THEM! Who cares about them anyway?!". Social media isn't going away and simply banning it isn't going to be an effective solution imo. This comes down to parenting and teaching children how to properly navigate and consume social media. 

[TSUNAMI 21,297]

6 minutes ago, PartySick said:

 

Doing this would be an even more blatant violation of the first amendment than this law already is.

I firmly believe you guys need to revisit some of the amendments. 

[TheSine 6,912]

They will always find a way.

[SharkmanthaC 115,066]

56 minutes ago, weed said:

I don't see how this will change anything considering majority of websites do not care, I literally made my Facebook in 6th grade, I said "ya I'm 18" for everything lmaoo unless they require formal ID this will not do anything. 

However the "delete my profile or I can successfully sue for $10k" is fantastic

It won't change anything. The republicans can just act like they are doing something to protect kids.

[PartySick 172,975]

52 minutes ago, TSUNAMI said:

I firmly believe you guys need to revisit some of the amendments. 

Nope.

There's literally a SCOTUS case open deciding whether or not laws like this do violate the first amendment and federal judges in red states across the country are saying they absolutely do.

They force tech companies to moderate users' age, requiring legal verification like an ID, forcing certain language into their TOS, and violating users' privacy.

It's 100% unconstitutional.

[weed 79,043]

59 minutes ago, Reality said:

Social media isn't going away and simply banning it isn't going to be an effective solution imo. This comes down to parenting and teaching children how to properly navigate and consume social media. 

I have been on the internet since at least 2004, but it is completely incomparable and idk how to feel about it! It was just "internet" and not "social media." Like I was 9 and I was like "muffinssss!!! pumpernickle! cartoon muffin! glass muffin! Shoes! Let me borrow that shirt!! Charlie, they stole my kidney!!" I was playing shooting games as George Bush and Condoleezza! and I think that very positively influenced my imagination and creativity! but I was also exposed to **** thru pop-ups on children's games websites! Nowadays idk, different world, but for me it was a frontier of imagination.