The Florida House is close to placing harsher restrictions on teenagers using social media.
The controversial bill, HB 1, is gaining praise and controversy. The bill is designed to restrict children under 16 from using social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok. On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee voted 17-5 in favor of the bill, which now moves to the full House, with approval almost certain. The law will mandate social media platforms to terminate accounts held by minors under 16, with its supporters, such as Speaker Paul Renner, arguing that social sites negatively impact children’s well-being. They pointed out findings that suggest these apps are addictive and devastate the mental health of the youth.
Critics, however, disagree and are preparing to push back against the law. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and tech industry group NetChoice are arguing that the bill has constitutional flaws, potentially infringing on First Amendment rights. Another point of concern is the bill’s proposed age verification process, which requires more sensitive information than what is typically used to sign up for a social media account.
HB 1 would also give the attorney general the authority to file civil lawsuits for violations, with hefty fines potential for social media platforms allowing underage users. Furthermore, an independent bill, HB 3, garnered unanimous approval from the Judiciary Committee. This legislation suggests implementing age verification measures to limit individuals under 18 from accessing explicit content on the internet.
“This is our best attempt today to try to address a problem that is devastating our youth,” Republican state Rep. Tyler Sirois explained to the Tallahassee Democrat. “Soaring rates of depression, suicide, social isolation. I could go on and on.”
