Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law on Monday a bill that prohibits children under the age of 14 from accessing social media platforms and requires teenagers between the ages of 14 and 15 to obtain parental consent, a measure that , according to its supporters, will protect them from online mental health risks.
The measure requires social media platforms to close the accounts of those under 14 and teenagers under 16 who do not have parental permission. It requires them to use a third-party verification system to filter out minors.
The Republican-controlled state legislature passed a bill in February that would ban children under 16 from accessing social media entirely. DeSantis, also a Republican, had vetoed that bill, saying it limited parental rights.
The amended version allows parents to give consent for teenagers to use social media. It will come into force on January 1, 2025.
“Social media harms children in many ways,” DeSantis said in a statement. He said the legislation “will give countries a greater ability to protect their children.”
Supporters say the law will curb the harmful effects of social media on the well-being of children who use these platforms excessively and who, as a result, may suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.
Critics said the bill violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protections for free speech and that parents, not the government, should make decisions about their children's online presence, regardless of age.
(Reporting by Gabriella Borter in Washington)
Source: CNN Brasil
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