Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, on Monday, March 25, signed a law restricting social media access for minors under 14.
The bill will prohibit children younger than 14 from joining social media in the state, reports NBC News.
Those who are 13 years old and younger will not be able to open a social media account in the state, and 14- and 15-year-olds will need parental consent to use such platforms.
The bill, HB3, also directs social media companies to delete the existing accounts of those who are under 14.
Companies that fail to do so could be sued on behalf of the child who creates an account on the platform. The minor could be awarded up to $10,000 in damages, according to the bill.
Companies found to violate the law would also be liable for up to $50,000 per violation, as well as attorney’s fees and court costs.
“Ultimately, [we’re] trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids, and so I appreciate the work that’s been put in,” DeSantis said in remarks during the bill-signing ceremony.
DeSantis said: “We’re trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids.”
Speaker of the Florida House, Paul Renner, said that social media is fraught with risks from traffickers and paedophiles, and that “social media platforms have caused a devastating effect on the mental well-being of our children.”
