Bill banning minors under 14 from social media heads to DeSantis’ desk

Amber Jo Cooper contributed to this report.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Legislature gave final legislative approval to a bill that bars minors under a certain age from creating social media accounts, following an original veto by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The new version prevents minors under the age of 14 from creating and maintaining accounts, compared to the original form that prohibited all minors under 16. It also allows for 14 and 15-year-olds to create accounts with parental consent.

The amended bill passed the House of Representatives 109-4 on Wednesday, after the Senate approved their own updated language on Monday.

Reps. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, and Michele Rayner, D-St. Petersburg, filed the House version of the bill and championed the legislation through the process.

Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, filed the new language in HB 3, which originally only had to do with minors’ access to harmful internet content. The original bill, HB 1, was vetoed last week.

Grall’s amendment allows for the option of standard or anonymous age verification for those seeking to create a social media account.

The legislation is meant to specifically target platforms which use addictive features with content catered to individuals based on algorithms that analyze user information.

Addictive features include infinite scrolling, auto-play and live streaming.

The legislation is not supposed to target platforms that are simply used for one function, such as e-mailing and texting services.

The sponsors explained that the amended bill clarifies and defines other aspects of the legislation, including terms like “addictive” features. She said that it also determines punishment for platforms for practicing “reckless disregard” of the age certification requirements.

Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, argued that the bill was unconstitutional and would be challenged by the courts.

Rayner rebutted, explaining how her legal experience has convinced her that the legislation does not limit content consumption, ultimately protecting it from being challenged in the courts.

Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, expressed his support for the bill, highlighting how it would protect youth from being exposed to potential sexual predators.

In closing, Sirois said he is “honored” to carry the bill and thanked House Speaker Rep. Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, for his “commitment” to this issue.

“We must end this experiment on our children. Members, we are not opening a pandora’s box, we’re closing one,” he said.

Sirois said social media companies “know what they are doing is wrong.”

“They have not acted. We will,” Sirois said.