Florida wins ruling to enforce social media ban for under-14s

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 00:02 · Archive

Florida has won a court decision allowing it to enforce a law banning social media accounts for children under 14.

Florida has won an appeals court ruling allowing it to enforce a law banning social media accounts for children under 14. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 3-0 opinion finding that the law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2024, would likely survive a full legal challenge.

The court said the law implicates the First Amendment but does so in a content-neutral manner. It does not burden substantially more speech than necessary to advance the important interest in protecting minors from social media addiction, the panel ruled. The law requires parental consent for social media use by children aged 14 or 15, and applies to platforms that have been determined to induce heavy use and employ both algorithms and addictive features.

Industry trade groups the Computer & Communications Industry Association and NetChoice sued Florida, arguing that the law violated the free-speech rights of social media providers and users. A lower court judge had said the law likely was unconstitutional and granted an injunction in 2025, but that injunction has now been overturned. NetChoice said it was disappointed with the appeals court decision. The case will return to federal court in Tallahassee.

How it is being reported

• Florida wins key ruling allowing it to enforce a law that targets social media use by kidsFlorida has won a key court decision in a case involving a ban on social media accounts for kids under 14.News4Jax · 14 Oct, 23:21
• Florida wins key ruling allowing it to enforce a law that targets social media use by kidsFlorida has won a key court decision in a case involving a ban on social media accounts for kids under 14.Clickorlando · 14 Oct, 23:21

In this story: Florida · Ron DeSantis · 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals · NetChoice · Computer & Communications Industry Association · Tallahassee

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