teen health

To be clear, it’s not clear. The narrow requirements under the new legislation would appear to exclude Facebook, X, Instagram, Reddit and other popular platforms but may include Snapchat and TikTok.

The House passed the bill, completing Speaker Paul Renner's top priority for the session. The bill will ban social media accounts for children under 14 and require parental permission for 15- and 16-year-olds.

Florida lawmakers are gearing up to pass a new proposed ban on social media accounts for many children. Opponents say the proposal’s age-verification requirement is unconstitutional.

With legal challenges still likely, the state Senate overwhelmingly advanced a revamped plan to keep children off social media days after an original bill was vetoed by the governor.

The governor is expected to veto the bill, but a Senate procedural move would allow lawmakers to add a negotiated proposal to a related bill that had been in a Senate committee.

With a Friday deadline looming, Speaker Paul Renner said that he and Gov. Ron DeSantis are trying to work out difference on a bill aimed at keeping children under age 16 off social media platforms.

If signed by the governor, children under 16 will be kept from popular platforms regardless of parent approval. Supporters point to rising suicide rates among children, cyberbullying and online predators.

The bill seeks to prevent kids from creating accounts on “addictive” platforms. Sen. Erin Grall likens social media use to drug use. Opponents express concern about First Amendment rights.

Young entrepreneurs and activists are worried about a proposal to ban social media for kids under 16 — even with consent of their parents. The state Senate may still make further changes to the bill.

The Legislature is close to passing a measure restricting social media accounts for children under 16, and some of them say they aren’t willing to lose access.