Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed H.B. 3 into law on Monday, giving parents enhanced control over their under-16 children’s use of social media and requiring age verification for several websites. The new law mandates that social media platforms block Floridians under 14 from creating new accounts and delete any current accounts. Additionally, parent or guardian consent is now necessary for 14 and 15-year-olds wanting to access a social media platform.
The new law allows for legal action by parents or guardians if social media companies fail to delete the underage accounts, with a potential liability of $10,000 in damages for each case. A knowing and reckless violation could lead to an unfair or deceptive trade charge, with civil penalties of up to $50,000 for each violation.
Furthermore, the law stipulates commercial apps and sites must verify user ages but can offer an anonymous age verification option for privacy reasons. Websites with substantial material potentially harmful to minors will receive extra scrutiny and must ensure users are 18. Violators could face a civil penalty of up to $50,000.
The new law has faced pushback from tech industry groups, including the trade association NetChoice, which represents the major social media platforms. They contend the new law “will impose an ‘I.D. for the Internet’ on any Floridian who wants to use an online service—regardless of their age.”
Gov. DeSantis emphasized that he was guided by his role as a governor and father when he signed the bill into law on Monday. He noted that many Florida parents are concerned about the impact the internet is having on their children. The new law will go into effect on January 1, 2025.
