Florida Passes Social Media Regulation Law For Minors Despite Constitutional Concerns

Published by USA TODAY:

Florida's New Social Media Law Passed, Despite Critics' Concerns After vetoing a similar bill last year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a new law, HB 3, which aims to regulate social media usage among minors in the state. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2024, and it differs from its predecessor, HB 1, by adding a parental permission exception for individuals aged 14 and 15. According to The News Service of Florida, the proposed rules address one of the more contentious aspects of the law – its age verification requirement.

Critics have argued that the law's vague language may lead to the impaction of various online platforms beyond social media giants like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. The law states that any online forum where minors can create accounts, upload content, use algorithms to analyze user data... and provide features like notifications and messaging may be affected.

This broad definition could potentially include popular streaming services such as Spotify, where users can upload content or view the content of others, as well as other websites that offer similar features. NetChoice, a tech-industry group, has expressed concerns about the law's constitutionality. In a letter to Governor DeSantis, Carl Szabo, the organization's vice president and general counsel, wrote, "Age-verification schemes for the internet are blatantly unconstitutional.

Because the internet is home to significant amounts of First Amendment speech... users should not be forced to forfeit their anonymity in order to access it." Despite these concerns, "Governor DeSantis signed HB 3 into law on March 25," "2023." Opponents of the law argue that it violates First Amendment rights by imposing restrictions on online speech.

Sources: USA Today.

Reference: Found here

Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a similar bill, HB 1, last year in favor of "a different, superior bill," HB 3 . The original bill would have been the strictest social media ban in the United States. The new law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, differs from the previous one in that it adds a parental permission exception for Floridians who are 14 and 15 years old. The News Service of Florida reports that Moody's proposed rules address one of the more controversial parts of the law — its age verification requirement.