Senate panel passes amended bill barring most Florida minors from social media accounts

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – An amended version of Florida House legislation that prevents most minors from creating social media accounts passed its only Senate committee assignment on Thursday.

HB 1 was sponsored by Reps. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota, and Michele Rayner, D-St. Petersburg.

Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, who filed the Senate version of the bill, spoke in favor of the House legislation during its Senate committee stop.

The Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy passed a delete-all amendment on top of the bill.

Similar to the House, the amended bill prevents minors under the age of 16 from creating a social media account. Minors who are 16 and 17 years old do not need verification, but will be provided with disclaimers throughout their time on the platforms.

Grall referenced several downsides to social media usage amongst minors, including cyberbullying, sexual harassment, and dangerous and illegal activity.

She explained that the bill seeks to combat harmful social media platforms that use addictive features such as endless scrolling, push notifications, auto play video and live content.

The amended bill touched on some of the definitions of social media platforms, including companies that analyze user data and collect information of minors under the age of 16 and use that info to tailor the content that that individual sees.

The legislation would require social media accounts to use a third party source to verify users are above the age of 15. Grall assured the committee that there are many ways for third parties to verify individuals without using government IDs.

The bill does not apply to platforms whose predominant function includes electronic mail, messaging, streaming services, news, sports, or online shopping or gaming.

Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, questioned how the legislation would effect tourists in the state.

Grall explained that the bill only requires residents of the state to go through the verification process. Residents defined as people who live in this state for at least six months.

Thompson also questioned why the state would regulate social media access for minors and not leave it up to parents.

“I think this a challenge because we haven’t seen anything of this magnitude from private industry come at our children in a very long time,” Grall said. “I wasn’t here when the tobacco conversations happened or when the opioid conversations happened.”

She argued that the social media companies are “monetizing our children” and doing it in a way that is not subject to any state laws or community standards.

Steven Rocha, the policy director for PRISM Florida, an LGBTQ youth activist organization, spoke against the bill, arguing the definitions of social media platforms are too broad.

“There are already established ways for parents to limit their children’s time on apps that does not involve government intervention and that does not involve banning everyone under a certain age,” Rocha said.

Instead, Rocha argued it was more important to invest in online safety features and education for parents to help monitor their children’s time on social media.

Ryan Kennedy with the Florida Citizens Alliance spoke in favor of the bill, highlighting the harmful effects of social media on young children.

“We think the concept for requiring age verification for social media and also for material harmful to minors is much needed,” Kennedy said.

Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, applauded the bill and reassured members of the public that the legislation was not intended to take away the rights of parents.

“I can promise you, nobody is trying to harm anybody or take anybodies parental rights,” Collins said. “Everything that we do here is done in the best interest.”

The fiscal policy committee was the only assigned committee stop for the legislation. The next step would be for the Senate chamber to debate and consider the House bill.