Florida Governor Signs Bill Banning Social Media For Children (image@GovRonDeSantis)

Governor of Florida, Ronald DeSantis, signed a bill that prohibits children under 14 from joining social media. Those who are 14 or 15 years-old will need parent’s consent before joining the platforms. The bill, which is named as HB3, also asks the social media companies to delete the existing accounts of those under 14.

Companies that are failing to delete the account will be sued on behalf of the child, who creates an account on the platform. According to the bill, teenagers under 14 will be awarded up to $10,000, and companies that are not complying would be liable $50,000 per violation, without including the attorney’s fees and court costs.

During the bill signing, the governor said, “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”.

He previously vetoed a more restrictive bill, that directed children under 16 to be banned from using the social media platforms. That bill also required residents to submit an ID or other identifying materials in order to join the platforms.

The new bill, which is slated to come into effect from January 2025, is an effort to regulate social media based on concerns of parents that the platforms are not doing enough to keep children safe online.

Reportedly, in December last year, more than 200 organisations sent letter to Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, asking to schedule a vote on the Kinds Online Safety Act (KOSA). The Act seeks to create a liability for online platforms that recommend contents to minors that negatively effect the children’s mental health.

In January this year, the lawmakers of the state criticised the CEOs of TikTok, Meta, and X regrading online safety of a kid. The tech executives reassured their commitment towards child safety and pointed various tools they offer to prevent online exploitation.