With a vote of 106 to 13, following similar moves in numerous states to reduce “internet hazards” for young teens, Florida’s House of Representatives adopted a measure on Thursday prohibiting children aged 16 and under from using social media sites, reported Reuters.
The bill, known as HB1, would require social media sites to delete accounts of anybody under the age of 17 and screen out minors using a third-party verification method.
The bill would also force companies to permanently remove any personal information gathered from canceled accounts, and it would allow parents to sue those that fail to do so.
The bill will now go to the Florida Senate. Republicans dominate both houses of the Florida state legislature.
Sponsors of the draft law claimed the move was required to safeguard children from despair, anxiety, and other mental health issues associated with excessive use of social media, to which they claim youngsters are especially vulnerable.
Opponents of the law said that it goes too far, with others advocating less restrictive measures, such as enabling parents to choose whether or not to allow their children to use social media.
Meta, the parent corporation of Instagram and Facebook, opposed the law, claiming it would limit parental discretion and create data privacy issues.
The Florida proposal does not identify specific internet providers or corporations. Instead, it defines a social media platform as an online forum that records account holders’ behavior by allowing them to create user profiles, submit material, view other users’ content or actions, and connect with, or track them.
The law defines social media functions as “addictive, harmful, or deceptive design features” or those that encourage “an excessive or compulsive need to use or engage with” the site.
According to a legislative study conducted in conjunction with the Florida measure, Utah was the first state in the United States to pass legislation controlling children’s access to social media in March 2023, followed by Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas.