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DeSantis previously vetoed a more restrictive version of the bill that would have banned social media accounts for kids under 16. That bill also required Florida residents to submit an ID or other identifying materials in order to join social media. HB3, which is slated to take effect in January 2025, comes as efforts to regulate social media continue to ramp up across the U.S. amid concerns from some parents that the platforms don’t do enough to keep their kids safe online. In December, more than 200 organizations sent a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to schedule a vote on the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, which seeks to create liability, or a “duty of care,” for apps and online platforms that recommend content to minors that can negatively affect their mental health. In January, lawmakers grilled CEOs from TikTok, X and Meta about online child safety. The tech executives reaffirmed their commitment to child safety, and pointed to various tools they offer as examples of how they are proactive about preventing exploitation online. Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and other advocates of the new law argue that social media use can harm children’s mental health and can lead to sexual predators communicating with minors. "None of us can afford to be on the sidelines when it comes to social media," Renner said in remarks made at the bill signing. Several states that have enacted similar laws to limit teen social media — including Ohio and Arkansas — have been challenged by Net Choice LLC, a coalition of social media platforms whose members include Meta, Google and X, among others. TECH NEWS Meta is putting AI front and center in its apps, and some users are annoyed. Florida’s law is also expected to face legal challenges over claims that it violates the First Amendment. 5