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Florida's DeSantis signs law restricting social media for people under 16

Reuters · 8m

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that restricts children under 14 from using social media platforms and requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds. The legislation aims to protect young users from potential mental health risks associated with excessive screen time. The bill will require social media platforms to terminate accounts of underage users and implement third-party verification systems. It is scheduled to become law on July 1. Critics argue that the bill infringes on free speech rights and that parents should have the final say on their children's online presence. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, opposed the legislation, expressing concerns about privacy and parental discretion. Other states in the US have also passed or considered similar regulations.