{"id":2383272,"date":"2024-12-24T06:14:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T11:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-minors-social-media-profiles-to-be-wiped-in-2025-if-law-takes-effect\/"},"modified":"2024-12-24T06:16:37","modified_gmt":"2024-12-24T11:16:37","slug":"florida-minors-social-media-profiles-to-be-wiped-in-2025-if-law-takes-effect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-minors-social-media-profiles-to-be-wiped-in-2025-if-law-takes-effect\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida minors&#8217; social media profiles to be wiped in 2025 if law takes effect"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fflorida-minors-social-media-profiles-to-be-wiped-in-2025-if-law-takes-effect%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2383272&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In \u200bFlorida,\u200d a new law set to take effect on January 1,\u200c 2025, \u200dwill prohibit children aged 14 and under from having profiles on social\u200b media platforms like TikTok, facebook,\u2064 Snapchat, and Discord. For\u2064 14- and 15-year-olds, parental permission will\u2062 be required to establish\u2062 accounts. The legislation aims to address concerns about the addictive nature of these platforms and the potential risks posed by online predators. Supported by both parties in the legislature, Florida&#8217;s approach to regulating social media represents a pioneering\u200d effort to\u2064 protect young users. However, notable\u200d pushback from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/justice-thomas-suggests-section-230-may-be-unconstitutional\/\" title=\"Justice Thomas Suggests Section 230 May Be Unconstitutional\">major social media companies<\/a> is anticipated, as they challenge the \u2062law&#8217;s legality on First Amendment \u200cgrounds. Florida&#8217;s leadership, including \u2062governor Ron \u2064DeSantis and House Speaker Paul\u200d Renner, emphasize the need\u200b for intervention\u200b to safeguard children&#8217;s mental health and progress from the \u200bdangers of social \u2064media. Violations of the \u2063law could result\u2063 in fines of up to $50,000\u200c for social \u2063media companies.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Social media accounts of children in Florida to be wiped in 2025 if ban takes effect<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1881677\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Children across <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Florida\">Florida<\/a> could be just weeks away from having their profiles deleted on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/social-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"social media\">social media<\/a> sites such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, and Discord.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flsenate.gov\/Committees\/billsummaries\/2024\/html\/3354#:~:text=The%20bill%20requires%20regulated%20social,of%20a%20parent%20or%20guardian.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"new law\">new law<\/a>, which is set to go into effect&nbsp;on Jan. 1, 2025,&nbsp;prohibits&nbsp;children 14 years old and under from having profiles on social media sites, although whether it&rsquo;s enforced right away is another story.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s part of a sweeping social media bill that would make the Sunshine State the first in the nation to effectively bar young people from holding accounts on &ldquo;addictive&rdquo; platforms.&nbsp;For 14- and 15-year-olds, social media platforms must require parental permission before allowing them to set up accounts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Standing in the state&rsquo;s way is a wall of litigators from some of the world&rsquo;s most <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">powerful social media companies<\/a> who are prepared to fight the law&rsquo;s legality in court. They say restricting access is a First Amendment matter and, therefore, should be protected.<\/p>\n<p>Florida&rsquo;s bill had bipartisan support&nbsp;in the legislature, and state lawmakers were largely in unison when they called the apps &ldquo;addictive&rdquo; and said they harmed younger users.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You can have a kid in the house safe, seemingly, and then you have predators that can get right in there into your own home,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-desantis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Gov. Ron DeSantis\">Gov. Ron DeSantis<\/a> (R-FL) said. &ldquo;You could be doing everything right, but they know how to get and manipulate these different platforms.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The bill was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myfloridahouse.gov\/Sections\/Representatives\/details.aspx?MemberId=4619\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Florida's Republican Speaker Paul Renner&rsquo;s\">Florida&rsquo;s Republican House Speaker Paul Renner<\/a>&lsquo;s top legislative priority.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A child in their brain development doesn&rsquo;t have the ability to know that they&rsquo;re being sucked into these addictive technologies and to see the harm and step away from it, and because of that, we have to step in for them,&rdquo; Renner said at the bill signing.<\/p>\n<p>Florida&rsquo;s&nbsp;move followed other GOP-led states amid a national push to crack down on children&rsquo;s access to online platforms over safety fears, including interaction with child sex predators.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>DeSantis has said he believes social media is a &ldquo;net negative&rdquo; for minors but that with diligent parental supervision, social media could be used for good.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got to strike that proper balance when you are looking at these things between policy that is helping parents get to where they want to go versus policy that may be outright overruling parents,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Social media platforms could be fined up to $50,000 per violation if they &ldquo;knowingly or recklessly&rdquo; violate the law.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sites that do not terminate accounts after being requested to do so by the minor or a parent or guardian may be liable for up to $10,000 in damages plus attorney fees and court costs.<\/p>\n<p>The bill also prohibits minors from pornography or sexually explicit websites and requires age verification to access these sites.<\/p>\n<p>While parent groups applauded the new&nbsp;legislation, some Democratic lawmakers said it crossed a line.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This bill goes too far in taking away parents&rsquo; rights,&rdquo; Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-FL) said. &ldquo;Instead of banning social media access, it would be better to ensure improved parental oversight tools, improved access to data to stop bad actors, alongside major investments in Florida&rsquo;s mental health systems and programs.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Critics have already called the&nbsp;law unconstitutional, and the tech industry has vowed not to go down without a fight. It has also signaled it is ready to spend whatever it takes to fight it.<\/p>\n<p>NetChoice and the Computer &amp; Communications Industry Association, which includes Google and Meta, filed a First Amendment challenge in October.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;America&rsquo;s vigorous First Amendment protects individuals and businesses online and offline,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/netchoice.org\/netchoice-ccia-defend-the-first-amendment-against-texas-florida-in-new-supreme-court-briefs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"said\">said<\/a> Chris Marchese, director of the NetChoice Litigation Center. &ldquo;We urge the Court to safeguard&nbsp;the internet from government censorship by striking down these unconstitutional laws. The NetChoice &amp; CCIA cases are essential to protecting free speech on the internet and prohibiting the government from interfering with the marketplace of ideas.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Federal courts blocked less-restrictive youth social media laws enacted last year in Arkansas and Ohio.<\/p>\n<p>Judges there said the statutes would encroach&nbsp;on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/amy-coney-barrett-acts-clueless-about-hunter-bidens-laptop\/\" title=\"Amy Coney Barrett Acts Clueless About Hunter Biden&#039;s Laptop\">social media companies&#038;rsquo<\/a>; free speech rights to distribute information. They also said it impinged on young people&rsquo;s rights to have access to it.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This law would present a barrier for anyone who wants to access lawful speech on the internet,&rdquo; NetChoice Associate Director of Litigation Paul Taske said.<\/p>\n<p>Even though the law technically goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, there are still a lot of unknowns surrounding it.<\/p>\n<p>Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody&rsquo;s office announced last month that&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tallahassee.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2024\/11\/21\/florida-wont-immediately-enforce-social-media-age-restrictions\/76457476007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the state would not be enforcing the law<\/a>&nbsp;on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-gop-proposal-would-allow-users-to-sue-social-media-platforms\/\" title=\"New GOP Proposal Would Allow Users to Sue Social Media Platforms\">major social media platforms<\/a> until the court rules on a motion for preliminary injunction.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\" \"> <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In order to obtain a full record and obtain discovery, Florida agreed to stay enforcement of its statute until the court rules on the motion for preliminary injunction,&rdquo; Chase Sizemore, press secretary for the office, said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>A hearing is set for Feb. 28, 2025.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1881677\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1881677\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida&#8217;s new law may delete kids&#8217; social media accounts in 2025<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2383273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/desantis.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[16840,5113,6547,7497,32364],"class_list":["post-2383272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-16840","tag-florida","tag-law","tag-minors","tag-social-media"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/desantis.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2383272"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2383276,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383272\/revisions\/2383276"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2383273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2383272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2383272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2383272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}