Florida Governor Enacts Law Prohibiting Social Media Access for Children Under 14

In a significant action toward enhancing online safety, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has enacted a new law that prohibits individuals under the age of 14 from establishing social media accounts. This legislation, signed on March 25, 2024, requires social media platforms to remove any existing accounts held by children under this age limit.

Concerns regarding children’s safety on social media have been paramount in recent discussions among state lawmakers, who are advocating for more stringent age verification processes and enhanced parental controls. With the signing of this law, Florida takes a decisive step toward addressing these issues directly.

The new regulations establish that children aged 14 and 15 can only create social media accounts with permission from their parents or guardians. For those under 14, the law mandates platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to not only delete their accounts but also implement measures to prevent the creation of new accounts until they reach the appropriate age.

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The legislation specifies, “A social media platform shall prohibit a minor who is 14 or 15 years of age from entering into a contract with a social media platform to become an account holder unless the minor’s parent or guardian provides consent for the minor to become an account holder.” Should any teenager or their guardians request account termination, platforms are obliged to comply. Failure to adhere to this requirement could result in legal action against the companies, potentially incurring damages of up to $10,000.

Most major social media platforms, including Twitter, Meta’s Facebook, and Instagram, as well as TikTok, already enforce a minimum age requirement of 13. Following the implementation of this new law, Florida residents aged 14 and older will need to secure parental approval to engage with social media platforms, while those aged 16 and above will have the freedom to create accounts independently.

This robust law is set to take effect on January 1, 2025, marking a critical shift in how social media interaction is managed for young users in Florida.

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