Florida Backs Off Teen Social Media Ban But Enacts Restrictions

Florida will keep kids under 14 off of social media and require parental permission up to age 16 under a law Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed Monday.

The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, overhauls an earlier proposal that would have prohibited youth under 16 from holding social media accounts. DeSantis vetoed that measure, and said it did not give parents enough control over decisions about their children.

The law he signed instead allows youth ages 14 and 15 to use social media with a parent’s permission. The law applies to social media sites that use algorithms and design features deemed addictive, such as push notifications.

The law “gives parents a greater ability to protect their children,” DeSantis said in a statement.

The federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act already implements some online restrictions and parental consent requirements for kids under the age of 13 on sites directed at children.

Florida is likely to face legal challenges over the law. Utah laws enacted this year remove parental consent requirements from the state’s 2023 teen social media law, noting federal judges have paused implementation of similar laws in Ohio and Arkansas in cases that allege the restrictions violate the First Amendment.

NetChoice, a tech industry group suing several states over their social media laws, opposes the new Florida law. The Computer & Communications Industry Association also raised First Amendment concerns with the requirements.