Florida Becomes First State to Ban Children Under 14 From Social Media
Incident Details
Summary
On March 25, 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 3 into law, making Florida the first US state to ban children under 14 from creating social media accounts and requiring parental consent for those 14-15. The law mandated platforms to delete accounts of underage users and verify ages. Within months, the tech industry lobby group NetChoice secured a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement, citing First Amendment concerns. The law reflected a broader national trend following years of documented harms to minors; over 40 states introduced similar legislation in 2024. The debate crystallized tensions between free speech, child safety, and platform accountability.
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