The state of Florida has passed a bill that would impose strict limitations on minors using social media. The bill is now awaiting approval from Governor Ron DeSantis, who has previously voiced concerns about restricting children under 16 from accessing popular platforms, even with parental consent.

The House approved the bill with a vote of 108-7 on Thursday, shortly after the Senate passed it 23-14. Speaker Paul Renner, a Republican, stated that the Senate’s amendments to the original House bill were aimed at addressing Governor DeSantis’ concerns regarding privacy.

The legislation focuses on all social media platforms that monitor user behavior, permit minors to post content and communicate with other users, and employ addictive elements intended to encourage excessive or compulsive usage. Advocates cite increasing rates of youth suicide, online harassment, and exploitation of children by predators through social media as reasons for their support.

According to Erin Grall, the Republican sponsor of the bill, there are businesses that are exploiting addictive features to manipulate and harm our children on a large scale.

Several other states have entertained comparable laws, but the majority have not suggested a complete prohibition. In Arkansas, a judge at the federal level halted the implementation of a law in August that mandated parental authorization for minors to establish new social media profiles.

Advocates in Florida are optimistic that the bill, once passed, will be able to withstand any legal challenges. This is because it targets social media platforms that use addictive features, like notification alerts and autoplay videos, rather than censoring the actual content on the sites.

However, critics argue that this action clearly goes against the First Amendment and that it should be the responsibility of parents, not the government, to oversee their children’s social media activity.

“This isn’t 1850. While parents show up at school board meetings to ban books, their kids are on their iPads looking at really bad stuff,” said Democratic state Sen. Jason Pizzo.

Sarcastically, he suggested that legislators have alternative choices if they wish to act as parents to other individuals’ children.

“He suggested implementing a bill that promotes spending quality time with your children, preparing meals together, sharing a meal at the table, maintaining eye contact, and occasionally checking in on Grandma’s well-being.”

Both Republicans and Democrats were represented in the legislation, with differing opinions on the matter.

DeSantis acknowledged the potential harm of social media platforms for teenagers, but emphasized the importance of parental supervision in regulating usage.

DeSantis stated at a press conference in the Orlando area before the bill was passed that we cannot claim all uses are negative. He believes we have not reached that point yet, but he is hopeful that we can find a solution that addresses parents’ worries.

However, Renner, who has prioritized this issue in the legislature, believes that the governor will accept the end result as it addresses his worries about user privacy.

A number of parents may have conflicting emotions.

Angela Perry, a parent living in central Florida, expressed her understanding of the reasoning behind the bill. She and her spouse waited until their daughter was 15 years old before allowing her to use any significant online platforms. However, she believes that the decision should ultimately be left to each individual parent, taking into consideration the maturity level of their child.

Perry expressed concern over the infringement of parental rights, stating that schools not only have control over the books students can read, but now also their personal lives, which he finds intrusive.

The proposed legislation in Florida would mandate that social media platforms shut down accounts they suspect are being used by minors, and also allow minors or their parents to request the cancellation of their accounts. Additionally, any data associated with the account must be removed.

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This report includes contributions from Orlando-based Associated Press writer Mike Schneider.

Source: wral.com