SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ARE INSTRUCTED TO DELETE EXISTING ACCOUNTS AS A US STATE BANS ACCOUNTS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 14 ON THESE PLATFORMS.

A bill prohibiting kids under the age of 14 from using social media inside the state of Florida has been officially passed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
Teens who are 14 or 15 years old will need parental approval before they can register on a site, according to NBC News.

The relevant bill, HB3, also requires social media companies to delete any existing accounts belonging to users under the age of 14.

Businesses which disregard this rule risk legal action brought by minors using the platform, and the law stipulates that they could be liable for damages up to $10,000.

If a business is found guilty of breaking the law, it might be penalized up to $50,000 for each infraction and have to pay the costs of the court system and a counsel.

During the bill-signing ceremony, DeSantis stated, “In the end, [we’re] trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids, so I appreciate the work that’s been put in.”

HB3, which is scheduled to go into effect in January 2025, is the result of growing attempts to control social media sites across the United States, motivated by parents’ concerns about their kids’ lack of proper online safety precautions.

In December, more than 200 organizations wrote to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., urging a vote on the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which advocates for a “duty of care” by holding apps and online platforms responsible for suggesting potentially harmful content to minors.

In January, TikTok, X, and Meta CEOs testified before lawmakers on the subject of online kid safety. The tech leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the cause and provided a range of preventative measures aimed at reducing online exploitation.