A revised version of a bill that would ban kids from having social media accounts has been sent back to Gov. Ron DeSantis to be signed into law.
Earlier this month, DeSantis declined to sign into law a measure that would have forbidden minors younger than age 16 from owning accounts on popular social media platforms, regardless of whether their parents approved of them or not.
HB 1, the Online Protections for Minors, would have required certain social media platforms to prohibit certain minors from creating new accounts and to verify the age of account holders.
It was passed by the Florida House passed HB 1 by a vote of 106 to 13. The State Senate passed the measure on Feb. 22 by a vote of 23 to 14, and the bill was sent to DeSantis on Feb. 23.
DeSantis vetoed the measure on March 1 on the grounds that another social media-related bill was forthcoming.
On March 6, lawmakers passed HB 3, the revised version of the original social media bill.
Under the new legislation children ages 14 years or younger are prohibited from owning some social media accounts. It also allows the parents of those ages 14 and 15 to consent to their children opening accounts.
If DeSantis signs it, HB 3 will become effective on July 1.
