Florida Readies for Passage of "Social Media Use for Minors" Bill

The Florida House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill Wednesday that would ban social media for minors under the age of 16. The bill, known as HB 1, passed Wednesday in a 106-13 vote, with only a portion of Democrats in opposition.  Thirteen Democrats voted against the bill, while 23 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting it.

“This is about protecting children from addictive technology and what we know harms them,” Republican bill architect House Speaker Paul Renner told House members after the vote. “And what the social-media platforms know. For years, they have known this and they have failed to act. By your vote today, we have done so.”

The bill will likely face legal opposition from social media platforms like Meta/Facebook, as has similar legislation in other states around the country.

“We must act to protect Florida’s children from these addictive features, the mental health disorders caused by excessive use, and the risk of exposure to predatory activities,” said Rep. Tyler Sirois (R-Brevard), who sponsored the bill.

The bill was opposed by Democrats who also have argued against age appropriate restrictions on media materials for children, such as  Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) who sald said the bill is too broad and worries about children missing out on important digital skills, which some younger people have turned into a living. Rep. Ashley Gantt (D-Miami) said the bill goes against parental rights.  

The Senate description of the companion bill is as follows :

Social Media Use for Minors; Requires social media platforms to prohibit minors from creating new accounts, terminate accounts & provide additional options for termination of such accounts, use reasonable age verification methods to verify ages of account holders, & disclose specified policies & provide specified resources, measures, & disclaimers; authorizes DLA to bring actions for violations under Florida Deceptive & Unfair Trade Practices Act; provides penalties; provides for private causes of actions; provides certain social media platforms are subject to jurisdiction of state courts.

A matching bill is working it's way through the Florida Senate but has not yet been heard.  Indications are that Governor Ron DeSantis, who is a family and child protection advocate, will sign the bill into law when it makes it to his desk.  If passed the measure would go into law July 1.

To see the full text of the Senate companion bill, visit here.  

To see the text of the bill passed by the Florida House of Representatives, visit here .  

David Happe, editor of Tidings Media is in support of the bill with appreciation to Pinellas County Republican Representatives Adam Anderson and Berny Jacques for co-sponsoring the bill.  A full list of the drafters and co-signers is as follows :

General Bill by Judiciary Committee and Sirois and McFarland and Rayner (CO-SPONSORS) Anderson; Bankson; Beltran; Black; Cassel; Chamberlin; Chambliss; Fine; Garcia; Jacques; Massullo; Melo; Mooney; Overdorf; Plakon; Plasencia; Rizo; Salzman; Tant; Temple; Trabulsy; Tramont; Waldron