Restriction of Use on Social Media for Minors

Florida law on Restricting Minors use of social media

Florida can now begin enforcing its 2024 restrictions on minors’ use of social media after the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a lower-court injunction that had blocked the law on First Amendment grounds.

In a divided ruling, the appellate panel granted the state’s request for a stay, finding Florida is likely to succeed in defending House Bill 3—a statute that bans children under 14 from using platforms with “addictive” design features, requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds, and mandates deletion of minors’ data upon request.

The majority held that the law is likely a content-neutral regulation of platform features rather than speech itself, and said the public interest supports allowing enforcement while litigation continues.

In dissent, a circuit judge called the measure “plainly unconstitutional” and argued it imposes broad age-verification burdens that would chill lawful speech.

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