Florida can now enforce a ban on social media accounts for kids

The state of Florida won a key court decision Wednesday that allows it to enforce a ban on social media accounts for kids under 14 and other restrictions.The law was one of the most restrictive in the U.S. on social media use by children when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it in 2024.The law implicates the First Amendment, an appeals court said, but “likely does so in a content-neutral manner.”It would likely survive a full legal challenge “because it doesn’t burden substantially more speech than necessary to advance the important interest in protecting minors from social media addiction,” a panel from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 3-0 opinion.The law bans social media accounts for Florida children under 14 and requires parental consent for use by kids who are 14 or 15.Industry trade groups the Computer & Communications Industry Association and NetChoice sued Florida, arguing that the law violated the free-speech rights of social media providers and users. A judge in 2025 said the law likely was unconstitutional and granted an injunction.That injunction was put on hold while the appeals court heard the case. The lawsuit, with the injunction now overturned, will return…

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