Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday that will prohibit children younger than 14 from joining social media in the state. Those who are 14 or 15 will need a parent’s consent before they join a platform.
The bill, HB3, also directs social media companies to delete the existing accounts of those who are under 14. Companies that fail to do so could be sued on behalf of the child who creates an account on the platform. The minor could be awarded up to $10,000 in damages, according to the bill. Companies found to be in violation of the law would also be liable for up to $50,000 per violation, as well as attorney’s fees and court costs.
“Ultimately, [we’re] trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids, and so I appreciate the work that’s been put in,” DeSantis said in remarks during the bill-signing ceremony.
Don’t social media prevent 13 year olds and under from signing up anyway? They ask for your age but it doesn’t seem to keep kids from lying about their age and going on facebook, instagram, twitter, TikTok, etc, regardless. That’s disregarding the idea that a child could just use their parent’s account. What’s the enforcement besides the honor system and a vague threat of being sued? I am failing to see a difference between the state of things now and what that bill wants to introduce.
My thoughts exactly. This will change nothing. But he can say he’s saving children from big nasty corporations when he’s up for election.