The U.S. state of Florida is planning to implement a bill in January next year to completely ban minors under the age of 14 from holding SNS accounts.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an online protection law for minors. “Social media harms children in many ways,” DeSantis said at the bill signing event. “Being buried in the machine all day is not the best thing for children’s growth and education.”
This bill prohibits children under the age of 14 from holding SNS accounts and requires adolescents aged 14 to 15 to obtain parental consent if they hold an account. SNS companies must close accounts deemed to be used by children under the age of 14 and permanently delete the collected personal information. Accounts held by adolescents aged 14 to 15 should also be deleted without parental consent.
The law did not specify specific SNS companies. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (X, formerly Twitter) all apply.
However, the U.S. media believes that Florida’s legislation is likely to face legal challenges due to restrictions on freedom of expression.
Opinions on the law are sharply divided. Supporters argue that since adolescents’ use of SNS raises the risk of depression and mental health diseases, strong regulations are needed to protect minors. This explains that regulations can prevent exposure to online harassment or crimes. On the other hand, critics pointed out that the law violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects freedom of expression. They also argued that children’s online activities are a matter for parents, not the government.
SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
