Another US state, Florida, will ban children from accessing social networks.

Passed by an overwhelming 106-13 vote, the measure would require social media platforms to terminate the accounts of anyone under 17 and use third-party verification systems to screen out underage users.

Several US states have issued bans on children using social networks. Photo: Reuters

“We must address the harmful effects that social media platforms have on the development and well-being of our children,” said Florida House Speaker Paul Renner. “Florida has a compelling state interest and obligation to protect our children, their mental health, and their childhoods.”

The bill would also require companies to permanently delete personal information collected from terminated accounts and allow parents to sue those who fail to do so in civil lawsuits.

The bill now heads to the Florida Senate for consideration. Supporters of the bill say the measure is needed to protect children from depression, anxiety and other mental health issues they say are linked to excessive use of social media, which critics say leaves children particularly vulnerable to the potential for addiction.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, opposes the bill, known as HB 1, arguing that it would limit parental discretion and raise data privacy concerns.

“HB 1 would require every new social media user, from a 13-year-old in Miami to a 73-year-old in Boca Raton, to provide potentially sensitive identifying information, such as a driver’s license or birth certificate, to third parties,” Meta’s statement said at the hearing on January 17.

Meta promises that it will support US states to ensure that parental consent is required for teens under 16 to download social networking apps from online app stores.

Florida’s measure does not name any tech companies. Instead, it defines a social media platform as an online forum that tracks the activity of account holders by allowing them to create user profiles, then upload content or view the content or activity of other users and interact with or follow them.

But the measure exempts websites and apps that primarily function as email and messaging, as well as streaming services, news, sports and entertainment sites, along with online shopping, gaming and academic sites.

Utah became the first US state to pass a law regulating children's access to social media in March 2023, followed by Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas. In 2015, the European Union also passed a law requiring parental consent for children to access social media.

Hoang Hai (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/them-bang-florida-cua-my-se-cam-tre-em-truy-cap-mang-xa-hoi-post282593.html