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DeSantis Vetoes Social Media Age-Verification Bill, Signals Support for Revised Version

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill restricting social media use for minors under 16, citing a forthcoming superior proposal that addresses privacy, parental rights, and free speech.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gets a cheering welcome during a press conference at the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District headquarters at Walt Disney World, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. Almost a year after Florida lawmakers passed a law giving Florida’s governor control over Walt Disney World’s governing district, DeSantis on Thursday called the takeover a success, despite an exodus of workers, ongoing litigation and scandal surrounding one of his appointees. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Overview

  • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have banned minors under 16 from social media, citing the imminent arrival of a superior proposal.
  • The vetoed bill required age verification by social media companies and faced criticism for potentially infringing on minors' First Amendment rights.
  • A revised bill, supported by DeSantis, would allow 14- and 15-year-olds to use social media with parental permission, removing the blanket ban for younger children.
  • Critics argue the original bill was a form of government censorship, while supporters believe it protected children from social media's addictive harms.
  • The debate over social media regulation for minors reflects broader concerns about youth mental health and technology's impact.