TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) â Florida will have one of the country's most restrictive social media bans for minors â if it withstands expected legal challenges â under a bill signed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday.
The bill will ban social media accounts for children under 14 and require parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds. It was slightly watered down from a proposal DeSantis , a week before the annual legislative session ended.
The new law was Republican Speaker Paul Rennerâs top legislative priority. It takes effect Jan. 1.
âA child in their brain development doesnât have the ability to know that theyâre being sucked into these addictive technologies and to see the harm and step away from it, and because of that we have to step in for them,â Renner said at the bill-signing ceremony held at a Jacksonville school.
The bill DeSantis vetoed from popular social media platforms regardless of parental consent. But before the veto, he worked out compromise language with Renner to alleviate the governor's concerns and the Legislature sent DeSantis a second bill.
Several states have considered similar legislation. In Arkansas, a of a law that required parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts.
Supporters in Florida hope the bill will withstand legal challenges because it would ban social media formats based on addictive features such as notification alerts and auto-play videos, rather than on their content.
Renner said he expects social media companies to âsue the second after this is signed. But you know what? Weâre going to beat them. Weâre going to beat them and weâre never, ever going to stop."
DeSantis also acknowledged the law will be challenged on First Amendment issues, and bemoaned the fact the âStop Woke Actâ he signed into law two years ago was with a majority of Republican-appointed judges. They ruled it violated free speech rights by banning private business from including discussions about racial inequality in employee training.
âAny time I see a bill, if I donât think itâs constitutional, I veto it,â said DeSantis, a lawyer, expressing confidence that the social media ban will be upheld. âWe not only satisfied me, but we also satisfied, I think, a fair application of the law and Constitution.â
Khara Boender, a state policy director for the Computer & Communications Industry Association, said in a news release that she understands the concern for online safety but expressed doubt the law will âmeaningfully achieve those goals without infringing on the First Amendment rights of younger users."
She also anticipated a legal challenge.
âThis law could create substantial obstacles for young people seeking access to online information, a right afforded to all Americans regardless of age,â Bonder said.
The bill overwhelmingly passed both chambers, with some Democrats joining a majority of Republicans who supported the measure. Opponents argued it is unconstitutional and government shouldn't interfere with decisions parents make with their children.
âThis bill goes too far in taking away parentsâ rights,â Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani said in a news release. âInstead of banning social media access, it would be better to ensure improved parental oversight tools, improved access to data to stop bad actors, alongside major investments in Floridaâs mental health systems and programs.â
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This story has been corrected to show that parental permission is required for 14- and 15-year-olds, not 16-year-olds.