Florida may ban those under 16 from social media

(NewsNation) — Last year, Utah banned those under 18 from using social media without parental permission, and now, Florida lawmakers are poised to go a step further.

Lawmakers in Tallahassee, Florida, are considering a bill that would kick those under 16 off social media no matter what their parents think.

The bill still needs a final vote in Florida, but it’s already facing opposition. The proposed legislation would ban children under 16 from making accounts on social media networks like Facebook and TikTok, but it also says that any kids under 16 who have an account would need to delete them or have them deleted by the social media companies.

The law would require social media companies like TikTok to use a third-party age verification system to screen the ages of people using the apps.

NewsNation spoke to state Rep. Tyler Sirois, one of the bill’s sponsors, who says it is critically important.

“I think when you see soaring rates of depression, mental disorders, we had testimony in committee that explained to us that one-third of all young women are going to experience depression,” Sirois said. “And a lot of those adverse mental health effects can be traced back to social media usage. I think there’s a compelling state interest in keeping our children safe, and it’s time for us to act.”

But others are pushing back on the bill, calling it dangerous and unconstitutional because it would ban kids from social media regardless of how their parents feel about their children engaging online.

“This is a false sense of security. It’s essentially the government and Silicon Valley trying to replace parents,” Chris Szabo said. “At the end of the day, I am in the best position to decide what is best for my family and my children when it comes to social media or any other device. And the idea that the government should come in and decide whether or not something is appropriate for my children is not their role.”

The move comes after the surgeon general warned last May about the potential risks of social media when it comes to mental health and the overall well-being of kids and teens, saying excessive social media use can double the risk of things like depression and anxiety.

Arkansas passed a similar bill last year, but a federal judge issued a temporary injunction. Meanwhile, Utah’s law will go into effect in March.

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