Fla. Lawmakers Pass Ban on Social Media for Kids Under 16
The Republican Governor of Florida is preparing to sign a bill that would create one of the most restrictive social media bans in the country. Ron DeSantis has voiced concerns over the bill that would ban children under 16 from using popular platforms, regardless of parental consent.
The House approved the bill by a vote of 108-7 on Thursday, just hours after it was passed 23-14 by the Senate. The Senate amended the original House Bill, which Republican Speaker Paul Renner hopes will answer DeSantis’ questions about privacy.
The bill is aimed at any social media website that tracks users, allows kids to upload materials and interact with other children, and has addictive features intended to lead to excessive or compulsive usage. The bill’s supporters point out the rising rates of suicide among children, cyberbullying, and predators who prey on children using social media.
Erin Grall, Republican senator and sponsor of the bill, said: “We are talking about companies that use addictive features to mass manipulate our children in order to cause harm.”
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Some states have also considered legislation of this nature, but haven’t proposed a complete ban. In Arkansas, in August, a federal court judge blocked the enforcement of a new law that required parental permission for minors who wanted to create social media accounts.
Florida supporters hope that the bill, if it becomes law, will withstand legal challenges, because it would ban formats of social media based on addictive features, such as notification alerts, autoplay videos and the content of their websites.
However, opponents claim that the law violates the First Amendment, and it is up to parents to monitor their children’s use of social media, rather than the government.
“This isn’t 1850. “While parents attend school board meetings and try to ban books, kids are using their iPads to look at some really bad things,” said Democrat State Sen. Jason Pizzo.
He said sarcastically that lawmakers have other choices if they wish to parent the children of others.
He said: “Let’s pass a law that encourages parents to spend time with their children. Cooking dinner together, eating at the table, maintaining eye contact and calling grandma every now and then to check on her is fine.”
On both sides, there was a mixture of Republicans and Democrats.
DeSantis acknowledged that these platforms may be harmful for teenagers but insisted that parents must play an active role in monitoring their use.
DeSantis told a news conference in the Orlando area before the bill was passed, “We can’t claim that all uses are bad. They’re not.” “I don’t think it’s there yet. But I hope we can reach a solution that addresses parents’ concerns.”
Renner, who has made this issue a top priority in his legislative agenda, believes that the governor will accept the final product, because it addresses Renner’s concerns about anonymity.
Parents can also be mixed-up.
Angela Perry is a central Florida mother who said that she understood the reasoning behind the bill. She and her husband did not let their daughter on any major platforms before she reached 15 years old. Angela Perry, a mother from central Florida, said she understood the rationale behind bill and that her husband and she didn’t let their daughter onto any major platforms until she turned 15.
Perry asked. You already select books that my child may read in school. This is okay to some extent. You are now also intruding into their personal life. “It’s getting intrusive.”
Florida’s bill requires social media companies, upon request from a minor or their parents, to close accounts they believe are being used by minors. All information related to the account should be deleted.
