Florida approved a law this Monday to restrict the use of social networks among those under 16 years of age, a controversial initiative at a time when the United States questions the impact of internet giants on youth.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the text approved at the beginning of the month by the Florida Congress.
When it goes into effect on January 1, 2025, minors under 14 years of age will not be able to open or maintain a social media account in the state.
And 14 and 15 year olds will need parental consent to be able to use these platforms.
We are “trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have right now with parenting,” DeSantis said as he signed the new law.
The main promoter of the project, the president of the Florida Lower House, Paul Renner, celebrated the approval.
“We know (…) that more crimes against children occur on these platforms than anywhere else”he declared. “We also know that social media has had a devastating effect on the mental well-being of our children.”he added.
Most of these platforms require a minimum age of 13 to open an account, although they do little to ensure this is enforced.
Some critics of the law have argued that parents should be the ones to supervise the use of social networks by minors.
Others have pointed out that the text could violate the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression
An argument rejected by Renner, who explained that the law does not address the content but rather the addictive characteristics of social networks, such as “the infinite scroll or the likes and hearts that give (…) that little hit of drugs to your brain that It makes you want to stay connected longer and longer.”
DeSantis had rejected a previous bill that prohibited the use of these platforms by all those under 16 years of age, claiming that the text ignored the will of parents.
The governor has defended many times that parents should have greater control over decisions that affect their children, for example in education.
During his tenure, Florida has passed laws to restrict the teaching of issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Source: Gestion
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