Florida Bans Children Under 14 from Social Media

Florida has enacted a law banning children under 14 from using social media. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the legislation, which takes effect next January.

Under this new law, children aged 14 and 15 need explicit parental consent to join platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. Known as HB3, the regulation also requires social media companies to delete accounts of users under 14 and introduces fines up to $50,000 per violation.

Companies failing to comply face lawsuits on behalf of minors, allowing minors to claim up to $10,000 from a company that doesn’t delete their account.

HB3 goes beyond age restrictions by imposing new rules on harmful content. Platforms must monitor age compliance and filter out content that is “patently offensive” or lacks “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.”

With the risk of hefty fines and Florida being a significant market, platforms will need to adapt to ensure compliance. Meanwhile, a response from trade group NetChoice—linked to Meta, TikTok, and others—has been critical, citing concerns over creating an “ID for the internet”.

However, the law could also drive innovation in age verification technology and parental consent mechanisms. Platforms that quickly integrate these measures might gain a competitive edge by adapting to the new norms of operational legality in the state.