Florida is trying to combat the addiction of young people to screens. The governor of this state, Ron De Santis, signed a law on Monday aimed at restricting the access of minors under the age of 16 to social networks, at a time when the effect of the platforms on young people is causing concern in the United States.
The law, which will come into force next January, stipulates that those under 14 will not be able to open an account on a social network. Teenagers aged 14 and 15 will need parental consent to register on these platforms.
Protecting children’s mental health
“We are trying to help parents navigate very difficult terrain,” the Republican governor said as he signed the text. The Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and main instigator of the project, Paul Renner welcomed the adoption of the law. “We know (…) that more crimes are committed against children on social media than anywhere else,” he said. “We also know that social media has a devastating effect on the mental health of our children.”
Most platforms set the minimum age to open an account at 13, but this rule is easy to circumvent. Some critics of the law, however, believe that it is up to parents, not authorities, to monitor their children’s use of social networks. Others worry about a possible violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution which guarantees freedom of expression.
A harmful addiction
Paul Renner brushed aside these arguments, saying the platforms create a harmful addiction. “The constant consultation, the “likes” and the hearts which give a little dopamine hit encourage you to stay online longer and longer.”
Ron De Santis had rejected another bill banning the use of networks by those under 16, believing that the text did not sufficiently take into account the wishes of parents. The governor, an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination in the next presidential election, has repeatedly said that parents must have more control over decisions concerning their children, particularly in matters of education.