The Florida House of Representatives has approved a law called HB1, which seeks to protect minors from the risks and negative effects of social networks. The law would force some platforms to verify the age of their users and prohibits those under 16 from having accounts on social networks such as Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and Facebook, among others. Governor DeSantis has supported the initiative and has emphasized the role of parents in supervising their children’s use of social networks.
The bill received strong support in the House, passing by an overwhelming majority of 108 votes in favor and only 7 against. However, it has also raised criticism and concerns from those who argue that it violates First Amendment rights.
The law will take effect on July 1, 2024, if signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. This law seeks to protect minors from cyberbullying and reduce the suicide rate among this group. This law will also have a great impact on digital platforms, as they could lose an important part of their audience and revenues, and be forced to adapt to different regulations in each state or country.
The digital landscape is constantly evolving and it remains to be seen how this law will affect the use of social networks by minors and the regulations of digital platforms in the future.