Will Florida’s Social Media Ban for Underage Users Go into Effect?
By Movieguide® Contributor
A new Florida law requires social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to delete the accounts of users who are under 14, but why hasn’t it gone into effect yet?
House Bill 3 or, the “Online Protection For Minors” Act, had bipartisan support and was signed into law last year.
HB 3 intends to combat the many dangers young people face online, from posts promoting unhealthy body images to connecting children with online predators.
“The way this bill is structured, it is not engaging in any regulation of speech. It is basically identifying functionality that is causing harm. The addictive features,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis explained.
However, it hasn’t gone into effect yet, as it has been challenged on First Amendment grounds.
“Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said the state would not be enforcing the law on major social media platforms until the court rules on a motion for a preliminary injunction,” NBC Miami reported. “A hearing is already set for February.”
READ MORE: FLORIDA SOCIAL MEDIA BAN CRITICS ARGUE LAW VIOLATES FREE SPEECH
“We all want to protect our children, keep them safe, and avoid harassment, bullying, and the other darkness that permeates social media these days. But, is banning minors from social media platforms realistic?” technology analyst Susan Schreiner of C4 Trends asked Forbes. “Until now, safety has fallen on the parents of children — but in an online world, what’s the shared responsibility of the platforms, or do they not care?”
She continued, “In the past, it was relatively easy to enforce a ban on cigarettes for minors. It was relatively straightforward since it involved transferring something physical.”
Florida also recently passed a law requiring age verification for pornography sites like Pornhub, joining states like Oklahoma, Kentucky, Texas, Montana, North Carolina, Arkansas, Utah, Mississippi, Virginia and Louisiana.
READ MORE: PORNHUB LEAVES FLORIDA AFTER AGE-VERIFICATION LAW PASSES
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