Florida lawmakers are considering new laws that aim to keep children away from sexually explicit websites and harmful social media posts, joining a movement gaining momentum in state capitals across the country.
One proposal (HB 1) would restrict access to social media platforms for anyone under the age of 16. Another measure (HB 3) would require pornography websites to verify that visitors are 18 years or older.
Florida House Speaker Paul Renner said he wants to combat digital addiction that he thinks has created mental health issues, bullying and other problems for youths.
Renner also expressed concerns about unfettered access to online pornography with no safeguards to block underage viewers.
“We’ve got think to about kids,” Renner said. “We tell them they… can’t smoke until they’re 18, they can’t get tattoos or earrings without their parents’ consent, all of these things. But an 8-year-old kid can get online and see pornography… That doesn’t make sense. How do we let it happen?”
HB 1, sponsored by Reps. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, and Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota – would require social media companies to implement age-verification methods, prevent users under 16 from creating a new account and terminate existing underage accounts.
HB 3, sponsored by Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange – would require sexually explicit websites with more than a third of content deemed to be harmful to minors to “perform reasonable age verification” using a third-party service.
A third proposal (SB 1196/HB 1129) would require content filters to be turned on by default on tablets and smartphones. Parents would be given a pin to disable the filter if they choose, rather than having to set it up on their own, supporters said.
The bill also seeks to add criminal penalties for adults who engage in “hypersexualized” online discussions with children, which can be difficult to prosecute under existing laws, he said.
Parents could also sue and recover up to $50,000 per violation. The bill stipulates that only a parent or legal guardian can disable a child’s filter with fines and penalties for violators.