New Bill Passed in Florida House to Prohibit Under-16 Users from Social Media Access

The Florida House has approved a bill aiming to reduce youth engagement on social media platforms by prohibiting users under 16 from creating new accounts or maintaining existing ones. Championed by Republicans, the legislation targets the addictive features of social media and, if ratified by the Senate and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, could establish one of the nation's most strict regulations on the use of social media by minors.

The bill mandates that social media companies implement measures to prevent individuals under 16 from joining their platforms and necessitates the deletion of accounts held by existing young users. Furthermore, it calls for the implementation of effective age verification methods.

Experts have consistently highlighted the detrimental effects of social media on children and teenagers, attributing mental health issues in youth to tech companies. In a groundbreaking move, New York City issued an advisory declaring social media as an environmental toxin on Wednesday, becoming the first city to do so.