MIAMI, USA: Florida is moving toward one of the strictest social media bans for children in the country after the state Senate passed a bill Thursday to ban children under 16 from using social media.
The controversial bill aims to protect children’s mental health from the “addictiveness” of these platforms, amid growing concerns about online dangers such as sex offenders, cyberbullying and teen suicides.
The bill passed 14-23 and now returns to the state House. The bill has already been passed and the Speaker supports it, but any changes made in the Senate must be approved by the House.
If so, the bill would have to be signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has expressed skepticism. Similar efforts in other states have previously been blocked by the courts.
The governor has repeatedly said that parents should have more control over decisions that affect their children, especially when it comes to education.
Under DeSantis, Florida passed laws that reduced sexuality and gender identity education in schools and eliminated diversity programmes at public colleges and universities.
Dozens of books have been pulled from the state’s school library shelves in recent months by conservative parents and school boards as inappropriate for children.
Some critics argue that such laws targeting social media use violate the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech.
Last year, a federal judge blocked the state of Arkansas’ attempt to require parental consent to open social media accounts.
Most social media networks currently have an age limit of 13 or older to open an account, but do little to ensure compliance.
If passed, the regulations would require platforms to block children under 16 from creating accounts and close accounts that have already been opened.
