Social media ban in Florida! #Social #florida #ban #children

A new law in Florida will ban children under the age of 14 from joining social media starting in January 2025. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the law, which requires social media companies to delete accounts of those under 14. Children aged 14 and 15 will need parental approval before signing up for platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. Companies that fail to delete accounts could face lawsuits on behalf of the children, as well as fines for violating the law. The law is set to take effect in January 2025, but companies may challenge it for violating the U.S. Constitution. Florida House Speaker Paul Renner emphasized the importance of the bill, stating that children’s developing brains are not equipped to handle addictive technology. The law also defines harmful material for children and holds companies accountable for allowing minors access to such content. NetChoice, a trade group associated with Meta, TikTok, and X, criticized the law for creating identity verification issues for all Floridians, regardless of age. They believe there are better ways to keep Floridians, families, and data safe online without infringing on their freedom.