US: Florida law to ban children under 14 from social media
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Florida has passed a new law that bans children under the age of 14 from having social media accounts in an attempt to shield minors from harmful content.
The new law, which is one of the most restrictive in the US, will force social media companies to delete the accounts of children under 14 when it comes into effect next year.
Children aged 14 and 15 will require parental consent to join social media.
Tech companies which fail to comply with the law could be forced to pay up to $10,000 in damages to each child and fines of up to $50,000.
“Social media harms children,” Florida governor Ron DeSantis said as he signed the bill, named HB3, into law yesterday.
“Being buried in those devices all day is not the best way to grow up. It’s not the best way to get a good education.”
NetChoice, which is a coalition of social media platforms including Meta, TikTok, Google and Snapchat, said it will contest the new law, which it says is “unconstitutional”.
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