Florida Lawmakers Might Ban Kids Under 16 From Social Media
By Movieguide® Contributor
Florida lawmakers have introduced a bill that would restrict access to social media for anyone younger than 16 to help protect children from the dangers of the platforms.
The bill would require social media sites to verify a user’s age and ban anyone under the age of 16 from creating or running an account.
“We’ve got to think about kids,” said Florida House Speaker Paul Renner. “We tell them they…can’t smoke until they’re 18, they can’t get tattoos or earrings without their parents’ consent, all of these things. But and 8-year-old kid can get online and see pornography…That doesn’t make sense. How do we let [that] happen?”
The introduction of this bill comes as evidence of the detrimental effects social media has on kids mounts. Last December, a combined report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine compiled over a decade of research to reveal social media’s impact on young people.
Among other findings, the study found that social media can worsen existing mental health conditions, such as comparison or low self-esteem, which can easily lead to worse conditions like depression or anxiety.
Restricting social media use would also help get children off of their phones. The average American child spends 52 hours a week on a screen, most of that time spent on social media.
Laws concerning social media use are becoming more popular across America as lawmakers seek to address some of the worst issues plaguing the country, which are fueled by social media platforms.
Ohio, for example, recently passed a law requiring users under 16 to obtain parental consent before they can create a new social media account. Arkansas and Utah have passed similar laws in the past requiring parental consent for anyone under 18.
Movieguide® previously reported:
A new Ohio state law will go into effect on Jan. 15, which requires children under 16 to obtain parental consent before opening a new social media account.
“This law aims to give parents more control over their children creating new social media accounts,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. “So just like any other time, if you feel like you’ve been wronged by a company, we take those complaints and work to resolve any issues – this is no different.”
Legislators approved the Parental Notification by Social Media Operators Act in July and covers “gaming platforms, shared message boards, etc. that target children or are reasonably anticipated to be accessed by children.” This includes Facebook, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and Instagram.
“I support [the law] because I feel like some kids, they step over the bounds, and sometimes they use Instagram and social media to do certain things that isn’t really good for them,” 11-year-old Kevine Niyigena said, sharing her favor for the law.
- Content: +4Share:
- Content: +1