Florida may become the first state to ban social media for children
Florida lawmakers have passed one of the largest bans on social media for children under 16, but it is not yet known whether the bill will come into effect.
The law was sent to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who expressed concern about it because it restricts freedom to a certain extent. Moreover, the ban will apply regardless of parental approval.
Citing concerns about children’s mental health, House lawmakers voted 108 to 7 in favor of final approval of the bill.
It is noted that the ban will apply to any social networks that track user activity, allow children to download materials and interact with others, and use addictive features.
Lawmakers believe that this ban is necessary because of the growing rate of suicide among children, cyberbullying, and child surveillance.
Other states also considered similar bills, but most did not propose a complete ban. For example, in Arkansas, a federal judge blocked the law because it required parental consent to create new social media accounts.
