MIAMI, Feb 23, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Florida lawmakers moved Thursday toward
enacting one of the strictest bans on children's use of social media in the
United States, sending to the governor a bill to keep those under 16 off such
platforms.

The controversial legislation seeks to protect children's mental health
against the "addictive features" of such platforms, amid fears over online
dangers including from sexual predators, cyber bullying and teen suicide.

The legislation cleared the state Senate 23-14 and returned to the House,
where it passed overwhelmingly, 108-7.

It now heads to the governor's mansion where, to become law, it needs to be
signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who has expressed skepticism
about the legislation. Similar efforts by other states have previously been
blocked by courts.

"We're talking about businesses that are using addictive features to engage
in mass manipulation of our children to cause them harm," the bill's sponsor,
Republican Erin Grall, told the Florida Senate on Thursday.

But DeSantis, who has previously said he is sympathetic to fears over the
impact of social media on children, voiced concerns about parental rights.

"A parent has the right to opt in," he told a press conference Thursday.

The governor, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for president and dropped out
in January, has argued many times that parents should have more control over
decisions affecting their children, particularly in education.

Under DeSantis Florida has passed laws to curtail teaching about sex
education and gender identity in schools and to eradicate diversity programs
in state-funded universities.

Scores of books have been removed from the state's school library shelves in
recent months, deemed inappropriate for children by conservative parents and
school boards.

Some critics say such a law targeting social media use would violate the
First Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech.

Last year a federal judge blocked an Arkansas initiative that sought to
require parental consent to open a social media account.

Most social media networks already have a minimum age of 13 to open an
account, though they do little to ensure compliance with the provision.

If the regulation is approved, the platforms will have to block Florida
children under the age of 16 from creating accounts and close those already
opened.