Florida Law: Parental Consent Needed for Kids Under 16 on Social Media

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 had 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 stated:

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.

Similar Legislation in Other States

Florida is not alone in its efforts to regulate minors’ social media use. Arkansas and Utah have recently passed bills requiring parental consent for children under 18 to use social media and granting parents access to their kids’ online posts and messages. However, a federal judge blocked Utah’s law, arguing that it violates free speech rights by forcing private companies to carry speech they may not want to.

Ongoing Debates and Proposals

The issue of regulating minors’ social media use continues to be a topic of discussion in Florida’s legislature. Florida House Speaker Paul Renner (R) mentioned a proposal to raise the age requirement for social media use to 18, which was once scheduled for a vote but has since been postponed. Additionally, a Senate proposal aims to require parental consent for minors under 18 to use social media platforms.

As the debate surrounding the protection of children online and the preservation of free speech rights continues, Florida’s new law requiring parental consent for minors’ social media use is set to take effect at the beginning of next year.