Earlier this year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared in a congressional hearing where he was questioned about his social media platforms, which have negatively impacted families across the country. In the hearing, Zuckerberg was pressured into standing up and apologizing to families present for the harm the platforms Facebook and Instagram have caused.
However, in the hearing, Zuckerberg claimed that “the existing body of scientific work” has not shown a link between social media usage and negative mental health for kids, though studies have shown otherwise.
On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill that will prohibit children under age 14 from having social media accounts.
The bill, H.B. 3, also directs social media platforms to delete the existing accounts of those who are under 14 years of age. According to NBC News, companies that do not abide by this can be sued on behalf of the child who creates an account on the bill (NBC):
The minor could be awarded up to $10,000 in damages, according to the bill. Companies found to be in violation of the law would also be liable for up to $50,000 per violation, as well as attorney’s fees and court costs.
“Social media harms children in a variety of ways,” DeSantis said in a statement. “HB 3 gives parents a greater ability to protect their children. Thank you to Speaker Renner for delivering this landmark legislation.”
Governor Ron DeSantis Signs HB3 to Protect Children from the Harms of Social Media https://t.co/9nylhaOIXI
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 25, 2024
A press release from DeSantis’ office adds that H.B. 3 requires pornographic or sexually explicit websites to use age verification to prevent minors from accessing sites that are inappropriate for children.
“The internet has become a dark alley for our children where predators target them and dangerous social media leads to higher rates of depression, self-harm, and even suicide,” Florida House Speaker Paul Renner added. “I am proud of the work of all our bill sponsors, Representatives Tyler Sirois, Fiona McFarland, Michele Rayner, Chase Tramont, and Toby Overdorf for delivering a legislative framework that prioritizes keeping our children safe. Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ signature, Florida leads the way in protecting children online as states across the country fight to address these dangers.”
Reportedly, DeSantis previously vetoed a previous version of the legislation, which banned social media accounts for kids under 16. The legislation DeSantis signed this week will go into effect next year.
