So..they did it. I am a bit torn about this. I really do feel that Social media has some blatantly negative effects upon our society..never mind just on kids.
However this is a bridge too far in the 'nanny-stating' of our children. Parents need to step in and address the issue..not by bans, which, given the pervasive nature of Cell phones simply won't work--but in educating and monitoring kids usage..as well as their own, We all know that 'do as I say, not as I do' is stupid and ineffectual parenting. If you wish your kids to stay off of social media...or at least use it responsibly, then you must show them the example.
I would not be surprised if DeSantis vetoes this..it's almost certainly unconstitutional anyway.
apnews.com
A bill to create one of the nation’s most restrictive bans on minors’ use of social media is heading to Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has expressed concerns about the legislation to keep children under the age of 16 off popular platforms regardless of parental approval.
The House passed the bill on a 108-7 vote Thursday just hours after the Senate approved it 23-14. The Senate made changes to the original House bill, which Republican Speaker Paul Renner said he hopes will address DeSantis’ questions about privacy.
The bill targets any social media site that tracks user activity, allows children to upload material and interact with others, and uses addictive features designed to cause excessive or compulsive use. Supporters point to rising suicide rates among children, cyberbullying and predators using social media to prey on kids.
Other states have considered similar legislation, but most have not proposed a total ban. In Arkansas, a federal judge blocked enforcement of a law in August that required parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts.
Supporters in Florida hope that if the bill becomes law, it would withstand legal challenges because it would ban social media formats based on addictive features such as notification alerts and autoplay videos, rather than the content on their sites.
But opponents say it blatantly violates the First Amendment and that it should left to parents, not the government, to monitor children’s social media use.
“This isn’t 1850. While parents show up at school board meetings to ban books, their kids are on their iPads looking at really bad stuff,” said Democratic state Sen. Jason Pizzo.
He sarcastically said lawmakers have other options if they want to parent other people’s children.
“Let’s have a bill that encourages engaging with your children, cooking dinner, sitting at a table together, making eye contact, calling grandma to see if she’s OK once in a while.” he said.
The legislation had a mix of Republicans and Democrats on both sides of the issue.
However this is a bridge too far in the 'nanny-stating' of our children. Parents need to step in and address the issue..not by bans, which, given the pervasive nature of Cell phones simply won't work--but in educating and monitoring kids usage..as well as their own, We all know that 'do as I say, not as I do' is stupid and ineffectual parenting. If you wish your kids to stay off of social media...or at least use it responsibly, then you must show them the example.
I would not be surprised if DeSantis vetoes this..it's almost certainly unconstitutional anyway.
Florida lawmakers pass ban on social media for kids under 16 despite constitutional concerns
A bill that would be one of the nation’s most restrictive bans on minors’ use of social media is heading to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
apnews.com
A bill to create one of the nation’s most restrictive bans on minors’ use of social media is heading to Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has expressed concerns about the legislation to keep children under the age of 16 off popular platforms regardless of parental approval.
The House passed the bill on a 108-7 vote Thursday just hours after the Senate approved it 23-14. The Senate made changes to the original House bill, which Republican Speaker Paul Renner said he hopes will address DeSantis’ questions about privacy.
The bill targets any social media site that tracks user activity, allows children to upload material and interact with others, and uses addictive features designed to cause excessive or compulsive use. Supporters point to rising suicide rates among children, cyberbullying and predators using social media to prey on kids.
Other states have considered similar legislation, but most have not proposed a total ban. In Arkansas, a federal judge blocked enforcement of a law in August that required parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts.
Supporters in Florida hope that if the bill becomes law, it would withstand legal challenges because it would ban social media formats based on addictive features such as notification alerts and autoplay videos, rather than the content on their sites.
But opponents say it blatantly violates the First Amendment and that it should left to parents, not the government, to monitor children’s social media use.
“This isn’t 1850. While parents show up at school board meetings to ban books, their kids are on their iPads looking at really bad stuff,” said Democratic state Sen. Jason Pizzo.
He sarcastically said lawmakers have other options if they want to parent other people’s children.
“Let’s have a bill that encourages engaging with your children, cooking dinner, sitting at a table together, making eye contact, calling grandma to see if she’s OK once in a while.” he said.
The legislation had a mix of Republicans and Democrats on both sides of the issue.
