A new Florida law aimed at restricting minors from accessing major social media platforms faces a delay in enforcement due to ongoing legal challenges.
Florida’s recent legislation, which seeks to limit social media access for minors under 16, is set to become effective on January 1. However, enforcement will not commence immediately against major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office has deferred action until the resolution of a critical court ruling.
Chase Sizemore, a spokesperson for Moody’s office, stated that enforcement of the statute will be postponed to allow “a full record” and to complete discovery. This decision follows a lawsuit by trade associations NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, which represent these major platforms. The lawsuit, filed last month, challenges the law on First Amendment grounds, focusing only on the social media provisions affecting these platforms.
The law stipulates that minors under 16 cannot use social media unless they are aged 14 or 15 and have parental permission. Despite the inclusion of age verification requirements for accessing pornographic sites, the current legal stay only concerns social media-related provisions. A hearing to determine if Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker will block the law is scheduled for late February, ensuring a delay in enforcement of at least two months. Judge Walker noted that an earlier hearing was possible, “but neither side embraced a more streamlined, expedited presentation.”
Meanwhile, this is not the first legal confrontation between Florida and social media companies. NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association are also embroiled in a dispute over a 2021 law that sought to prevent platforms from banning political candidates. That law, which also allowed users to sue for unfair bans, was blocked by federal courts citing First Amendment protections. The ongoing litigation was remanded by the U.S. Supreme Court back to Florida’s federal court.
In response to the latest lawsuit, Moody’s office criticized the filing, calling it “riddled with holes” and describing it as an “indiscriminate challenge.” The office pointed out that the platforms “continue to hide behind their trade associations” instead of joining the lawsuit themselves. A jury trial for this case is scheduled for November 2025.
As Florida awaits court rulings on its contentious social media legislation, the broader debate on the regulation of online platforms continues. The outcome of these legal battles will have significant implications for how social media is governed, particularly concerning minors’ access.
Source: News-journalonline
