tallahassee — Amid debate over the role of government and parental rights, the Florida Senate passed a bill Thursday that seeks to maintain parental rights. Children under 16 should not use social media platforms.
The Senate approved the bill 23-14 (HB1) This includes preventing children under 16 from creating accounts on at least some social media platforms. The issue is a priority for House Speaker Paul Renner, and advocates say: Social media harms children’s mental health and exposes them to sex offenders.
The House passed the bill last month, but changes in the Senate require it to be voted on again.
“We’re talking about companies that use addictive features to operate on a massive scale to harm children,” said Senate sponsor Erin Goulart, R-Vero Beach. He said this before the Senate vote.
But opponents described the bill as “government overreach” and said parents should decide whether their children use social media.
“Parenting is very difficult, but that doesn’t mean the government needs to intervene,” said Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton.
Opponents also argued that the court would rule the bill unconstitutional because judges have blocked similar laws in other states. Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-Sunny Isles Beach) said it would be a “miracle” for the bill to be recognized as constitutional.
“This will be overturned in court, even by state-level judges appointed by the governor.” [Gov. Ron DeSantis] And even people appointed by President Trump at the federal level,” said Pizzo, the attorney.
DeSantis, the attorney, raised constitutional concerns after the bill passed the House. But the measure was amended in the Senate, at least in part in an effort to address legal concerns.
“All the states across this country are standing up and we’re using different tactics to get the courts to address this,” attorney Goulart said. “I think this bill goes a very long way in tailoring it as narrowly as possible to pass that constitutional analysis.”
Many important decisions in the Republican-controlled Congress are taken along party lines, but the bill drew support from Republicans and Democrats, as well as opposition from Republicans and Democrats.
Democrats Rosalind Osgood of Fort Lauderdale and Daryl Rouson of St. Petersburg joined 21 Republicans in voting in favor of the bill. He joins nine Democrats, including Republican Brian Avila of Miami Springs, Jennifer Bradley of Fleming Island, Blaise Ingoglia of Spring Hill, Jonathan Martin of Fort Myers and Jay Trumbull of Panama City. I objected. Three senators were absent.
The bill would prohibit children under the age of 16 from creating accounts on at least some social media platforms, and would prohibit children under the age of 16 from creating accounts on at least some social media platforms, and would prohibit children under the age of 16 from creating accounts on at least some social media platforms, and would prohibit children under the age of 16 from creating accounts on at least some social media platforms, and would prohibit children under the age of 16 from creating accounts on at least some social media platforms. It will require platforms to terminate existing accounts for “reason” and allow parents to require their minors to create an account. ‘ Your account will be suspended.
The bill includes criteria to determine which platforms are subject to restrictions. Criteria include issues with algorithms, “addictive features” and allowing users to view other users’ content and activity.
It would also require platforms to verify age before creating an account, which would also affect adults.
Under the changes approved Wednesday, social media platforms will be required to provide anonymous age verification methods to potential users. These platforms may also offer what are known as “standard” age verification methods. If both methods are provided, potential users will be able to choose one method or the other.
Gural said the changes in the bill focus on platform functionality rather than content to withstand court challenges. The bill does not list specific platforms that would be affected.
She also pushed back on the debate over parental rights, saying the state needs to address social media issues because of constant changes by platforms. She said Wednesday that this dynamic precludes “informed parental consent.”
While social media restrictions have dominated much of the discussion, the bill also includes requiring age verification to prevent minors under 18 from accessing online porn sites. The House passed a separate bill on the issue.
Sen. Renner (R-Palm Coast) supports the Senate’s changes. It was not immediately clear Thursday morning whether the House would consider the bill again.