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February 23, 2024
On Thursday, HB 1 (Sirois) received final passage by a 108-7 vote in the Florida House. The legislation prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from having accounts on social media platforms that meet certain criteria, including the use of addictive technologies. The bill was previously amended to include the substance of HB 3, a bill supported by the FCCB that requires pornography websites to conduct age verification to ensure that users are at least 18 years old.
Research has shown significant mental health harms and increased rates of depression among minors who use social media platforms that are designed to be addictive. Mainstream internet use and mobile technology has also increased the accessibility of pornography, lowering the average age that a young person is exposed to this harmful content.
The bill will go to Governor DeSantis, who has lamented the infringement on parental rights by the social media provisions of the bill.