Florida Governor Signs Law Requiring Parental Consent for Minors’ Social Media Use
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has signed legislation, HB 3, that mandates parental consent for minors under 18 to use social media platforms. The law, which is set to take effect on January 1st, 2024, aims to protect children from the potential harms associated with social media while supporting parents’ rights.
Balancing Child Protection and Free Speech
Before signing HB 3, Governor DeSantis vetoed a separate bill that would have banned social media accounts for children under 16 without the option for parental consent. In his veto message, DeSantis emphasized the importance of striking a balance between safeguarding children and maintaining the ability of adults to engage in anonymous speech:
Protecting children from harms associated with social media is important, as is supporting parents’ rights and maintaining the ability of adults to engage in anonymous speech.
Parental Consent and Access to Online Activity
In addition to requiring parental consent for minors to use social media, the new law also grants parents access to their children’s posts and messages online. This provision aims to empower parents to monitor their children’s online activity and ensure their safety.
Challenges and Controversies
The passage of HB 3 comes amidst ongoing debates surrounding social media regulation and free speech. In a separate case, a federal appeals court recently ruled that a previous Florida social media law violated the First Amendment by forcing private companies to carry speech even when they don’t want to.
Similar Proposals in Other States
Florida is not alone in its efforts to regulate minors’ social media use. Lawmakers in Arkansas have introduced two bills that would require parental consent for children under 18 to use social media and grant parents access to their online activity. In Utah, a similar proposal in the Senate would also require parental consent for minors to use social media platforms.
As the effective date of HB 3 approaches, it remains to be seen how the law will be implemented and what impact it will have on minors’ social media use in Florida.
6 Comments
DeSantis hands out parental consent forms like they’re social media’s new age verification, or is it a privacy check
Now kids need a permission slip to tweet? Welcome to the new age of digital grounding.
Wow, Governor DeSantis is really tightening the leash on social media freedom for minors, isn’t he
Finally, someone’s putting a lock on the digital playground, but is it for safety or control
Parental consent for social media under 16, huh? Next up, permission notes to use the bathroom.
So, DeSantis is rolling back the clock to when parents had the final say – digital curfews are back, folks!