Florida legislators approve bill to impose ban on social media for anyone under 16

Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature passed a bill that would ban anyone under 16 from social media platforms to protect young people from online risks to their mental health, Reuters reported.

The bill requires social media platforms to terminate accounts of people under 16 and use a third-party verification system to screen out underage users.

The article says that Governor Ron DeSantis has yet to review the final version, expressing concerns about privacy rights.

The bill has faced opposition from critics who argue that it violates free speech protections and that parents should make decisions about their children’s online presence.

The bill also includes provisions for social media companies to delete personal information from terminated accounts and allows parents to bring civil lawsuits against those failing to do so.