Florida Senate passes revised social media restriction bill to include more parental control

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Senate passed a new amended version of legislation barring minors under a certain age from creating social media accounts, following the bill’s original veto by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The amended bill passed 30-5 in the Senate chamber on Monday.

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.

Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, filed the new language in HB 3, which originally only had to do with minor’s 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.

Grall also 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.

Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Hollywood, expressed concerns that parents may become criminally liable if their children illegally operate a social media account. He referenced several legal examples of how parents can be effected by knowingly neglecting their child’s illegal actions.

Grall reassured him that their is nothing in the bill that would impact parents depending on their complicit nature in allowing for their children to operate an account on a platform that they are not allowed to use.

In addition to social media restrictions, the amendment also contains language relating to the original function of HB 3, that being limits on minors access to websites that content harmful content.

Similarly, website visitors would be able to choose standard or anonymous age verification before being granted access.

Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, complimented Grall’s amendment for its intentions, but warned about government overreach in the legislation.

The legislation will head to the Florida House of Representatives for a vote before the governor can sign of on approval or disapproval of the bill.

DeSantis said last week with his veto that he is expecting a better version of the bill that protects parental rights and online anonymity.