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Florida will begin enforcing its law banning children aged 14 and under from having social media accounts starting in May, with Meta set to remove accounts of minors under 14 to comply with the new regulations.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the update on “Fox & Friends,” emphasizing that social media companies that fail to comply could face steep fines. He stated that each violation could incur a penalty of $50,000, which could quickly accumulate into billions of dollars if companies do not act promptly.
The legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2024 after bipartisan support, restricts children 14 and younger from creating social media accounts, while 15-year-olds require parental permission. The law faced legal challenges for two years but is now fully enforceable.
Uthmeier highlighted the growing concerns prompting the law, including increased reports of youth suicides, self-harm, depression, and risks posed by online predators linked to social media use. He called on other platforms such as Snapchat, Roblox, Discord, and TikTok to follow Meta’s lead and implement age verification measures.
“They know that kids are suffering on these applications. They know the predators are getting to kids.
So we’re encouraging companies, ‘come in, sit down. Let’s work together, let’s protect our kids at all costs,'” Uthmeier said.
Officials expect hundreds of thousands of accounts to be suspended once enforcement begins. The Attorney General’s office has made clear that non-compliance will result in aggressive legal action, seeking heavy damages and court orders to ensure adherence.
The move marks a significant step in Florida’s ongoing efforts to regulate social media platforms to protect children’s mental health and safety.