Florida lawmakers pass ban on social media for kids under 16 despite constitutional concerns
Source: NBC News/AP
Feb. 23, 2024, 11:57 AM EST
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A bill to create one of the nation’s most restrictive bans on minors’ use of social media is heading to Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has expressed concerns about the legislation to keep children under the age of 16 off popular platforms regardless of parental approval.
The House passed the bill on a 108-7 vote Thursday just hours after the Senate approved it 23-14. The Senate made changes to the original House bill, which Republican Speaker Paul Renner said he hopes will address DeSantis’ questions about privacy.
The bill targets any social media site that tracks user activity, allows children to upload material and interact with others, and uses addictive features designed to cause excessive or compulsive use. Supporters point to rising suicide rates among children, cyberbullying and predators using social media to prey on kids.
“We’re talking about businesses that are using addictive features to engage in mass manipulation of our children to cause them harm,” said the bill’s Senate sponsor, Republican Erin Grall. Other states have considered similar legislation, but most have not proposed a total ban. In Arkansas, a federal judge blocked enforcement of a law in August that required parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/florida-lawmakers-pass-ban-social-media-kids-16-constitutional-concern-rcna140214
= new reply since forum marked as read
all by itself. 
After all the Democrats move to another state, of course.
