Florida Court Upholds Law Limiting Social Media Use for Children Under 14

Court Ruling Upholds Law

Jordan-based media outlet Al-Ghad reported that the US state of Florida secured a significant legal victory on Wednesday, allowing it to enforce a law that prohibits children under the age of 14 from holding accounts on social media platforms and imposes other restrictions on their use.

A unanimous three‑judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit said the law was likely to withstand legal challenges because it “does not burden substantially more speech than is necessary to further the important interest of protecting minors from social media addiction.” The court also noted that the measure affects rights protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, but likely does so “in a content‑neutral manner.”

Details of the Legislation and Industry Opposition

The legislation was signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2024 and was described as one of the strictest laws in the United States governing children’s use of social media. It bars children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for those aged 14 and 15.

Two trade groups representing the technology industry, the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and NetChoice, filed a lawsuit against Florida, arguing that the law violates the free‑speech rights of social media providers and their users.

Procedural History and Next Steps

In 2025 a district court judge ruled that the law was likely unconstitutional and issued a preliminary injunction blocking its enforcement. Enforcement of that injunction was suspended while the appeals court considered the case. With the injunction now overturned, the lawsuit will return to federal court in Tallahassee, Florida’s capital.

The appeals court added that the law targets social media platforms “shown to drive children to excessive use” and applies only to platforms that use algorithms alongside one of several features considered addictive.

The Florida Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the ruling, while NetChoice expressed disappointment with the decision. Paul Taske, an attorney for NetChoice, said: “We are currently evaluating all our options as we continue our efforts to ensure Floridians’ online free‑speech rights are protected and that parents remain the primary decisionmakers when it comes to their families.”