The state of Florida has become the center of attention by passing a law that prohibits children under 14 years of age from accessing social networks, while requiring parental consent for 14 and 15 year olds.
This measure, which will take effect on January 1, 2025, brings to the table the debate about protecting the mental health of children and adolescents around the content they encounter online.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis backed the initiative, arguing that social networks pose a threat to the mental health of young people. The new law obliges platforms to cancel the accounts of children under 14 and those under 16 who lack parental consent. In addition, companies will be required to implement third-party verification systems to ensure compliance with these restrictions.
The Florida legislature initially proposed to completely ban access to social networks for minors under 16, but DeSantis vetoed this measure, arguing that it infringed on parental rights.
The Florida measure does not specifically mention any social networks, but targets those that encourage features such as “infinite browsing” and the display of reaction metrics such as “Likes.”
Florida joins a growing list of states in the U.S. seeking to regulate children’s access to social networks. Utah, Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas have implemented similar measures, while other jurisdictions are considering legislative proposals. These actions reflect widespread concern about the impact of social networking on the mental health and well-being of young people, not only in the United States, but around the world.
