Social Media Shutdown for Kids Under 14: New Law to Delete Accounts

Florida(The Uttam Hindu): A new law in Florida, which goes into effect on January 1, 2024, limits children under 16 from using most social media platforms. The new law bars minors from opening accounts on sites like Facebook and Instagram unless they are 14 or 15 and have parental consent. The legislation, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in March, aims to protect young people from the potential harms of social media, including addictive features and algorithm-driven content.

Critics argue that the law infringes on free speech and personal rights. "The law restricts access to free speech," said Paul Taske, Associate Director of Litigation at NetChoice, an advocacy group. The state is currently defending the law in federal court, with a hearing scheduled for February 28, 2024.

While the law is being challenged, Florida's Attorney General Ashley Moody has agreed not to enforce it. The law is part of a larger trend as social media use among teenagers continues to rise. A Gallup poll found that American teens spend more than four hours a day on social media.

Florida State University professor Vanessa Dennen noted that while social media is an important part of modern life, children need to learn how to navigate it responsibly. Several other states have introduced similar laws, though many have been ruled unconstitutional. Federal law already bars minors under 13 from using social media, making it a tangled web for such regulations.

The outcome of the federal case will have far-reaching ramifications for how social media is to be regulated for minors everywhere in the country.