Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida made headlines on Friday when he vetoed a controversial social media bill that would have prohibited residents under the age of 16 from opening accounts on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, even with parental permission.
In a post on Twitter, Gov. DeSantis explained that he vetoed the bill because the state Legislature was working on a new and improved version that would better respect parents’ rights. This decision came after the governor expressed concerns that the original bill went too far in overriding parental authority.
Following the veto, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Paul Renner, announced on Twitter that a stronger bill would be introduced to protect children from online harms.
The vetoed bill would have required social networks to verify users’ ages, prevent those under 16 from creating accounts, and terminate accounts believed to belong to underage users. This blanket ban sparked opposition from parents’ groups, including the Florida Parent-Teacher Association.
Tech trade group NetChoice, representing companies like Meta and TikTok, welcomed the veto, citing concerns about government overreach and data collection.
Now, Florida lawmakers are shifting their focus to a new bill aimed at regulating sexually explicit online content harmful to minors and restricting social networks with addictive features. This bill would require age verification for pornography websites and limit access for those under 18.
The vetoed bill was part of a larger trend of states enacting online safety regulations, with some requiring parental consent for underage social media users. The issue of balancing online safety with free speech rights has led to legal challenges in other states.
Gov. DeSantis emphasized the importance of striking a balance between parental control and government intervention in regulating children’s online activities. The decision to veto the social media bill reflects ongoing debates about how best to protect young people in the digital age.
