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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.
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These cases raise a critical question for the First Amendment and the future of social media: whether states can force the platforms to carry content they find hateful or objectionable.
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The governor has until March 1 to decide whether to sign the proposal, a priority of House Speaker Paul Renner, who argues social media harms children’s mental health and can be used by sexual predators.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Changes pertained to the criteria for determining which platforms would be subject to the restrictions. House Speaker Paul Renner has argued that social media is harming the mental health of children.
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Supporters say the measure would protect children from "addictive features" to modify the way that kids behave, while opponents say it would infringe on First Amendment rights.
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Bill supporters say that social media platforms are addictive and harmful to the mental health of children. Critics are concerned about the First Amendment and parental rights.