Starting January 1, 2025, kids under 14 living in Florida will no longer be allowed to use social media, according to House Bill 3 (HB 3), one of the most restrictive bans for minors on social media. Entering the New Year, platforms like Instagram and TikTok will be required to delete accounts owned by people under 14. In addition, 14- and 15-year-olds will be allowed to access social media but only with parental approval. Despite the widely known negative effects these platforms have on the mental health of America’s youth, not everybody is happy about the new law. Some people think it violates the First Amendment rights of children. Others believe it’s not the government’s responsibility to police what people of any age watch and read. Are the critics right? Is Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) overreaching?
