Florida Passes Law Banning Children Under 16 From Using Social Media

Florida’s legislature passed comprehensive legislation that bans children under 16 in the state from holding accounts on social media platforms. The bill would prohibit anyone under 16 from registering a social media account, terminate existing accounts of underage users, and require some social media platforms to verify account holders’ age when signing up. The House members passed the bill with bipartisan support in a 108–7 vote on Feb. 22. Earlier in the day, the Senate had approved the legislation by a 23–14 vote, with five Republicans opposing the measure and two Democrats voting in favor. The bill is now heading to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s desk to either sign or veto it. Mr. DeSantis previously questioned the measure for not giving parents a role in this bill. Mr. DeSantis said he believes social media is harmful for children but that parents “could supervise,” and he was wary of a policy that would “overrule” parents....