Although the law has come into force, its effective application will be suspended until the case is reviewed by a district judge in February
From this Wednesday, January 1st, children under the age of 14 in will not be able to use social networks, in accordance with new legislation that seeks to protect the mental health of young people and combat bullying. However, the measure faces criticism for allegedly infringing on freedom of expression. Enforcement of the law is suspended until a court decision is made in February. The proposal, which received support from Governor Ron DeSantis, was spearheaded by Florida House Speaker Paul Renner. DeSantis argues that social media has a negative impact on children, and the new legislation aims to mitigate those effects. For teenagers aged 14 and 15, it will be necessary to obtain parental authorization to access these platforms.
Those responsible for applications such as Facebook and TikTok will be required to remove accounts of children under 14 and implement age verification mechanisms. The legislation also provides for the possibility of civil actions that could result in fines of up to US$50,000 for companies that do not comply with established standards. Entities such as the CCIA and the NetChoice coalition have already filed lawsuits against the new law, arguing that it violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution by creating obstacles to access to online information. The CCIA vice-president highlighted that the legislation compromises the rights of both minors and adults. The Free Speech Coalition also spoke out against the measure, considering it a form of state censorship. Although the law has come into force, its effective application will be suspended until the case is reviewed by a district judge in February.
Published by Sarah Paula
*Report produced with the help of AI
