Senate Bill 1438, introduced by Senator Erin Grall from Vero Beach, stalled in the Commerce and Tourism Committee on March 17.
The bill is one of many aimed at enforcing app manufacturers to create stricter laws in relation to younger demographics interacting with certain apps.
This bill follows the filing of HB 1503, SB 1718 and HB 0931, which all follow the same idea of minors needing protection from various applications that could affect them.
The bill often cited as the main reason behind this influx of legislation regarding this topic is last year’s House Bill 3.
House Bill 3, backed by multiple senators in the Legislature, says that 14 -or 15-year-olds can be account holders on social media websites with the consent of a parent or guardian. Those under age 14 would be barred from opening an account on these platforms.
Mentioning the addictive nature of these platforms and how they may be harmful to young account holders, is one of the main reasons behind multiple bills addressing teens and social media.
This safeguarding of apps, with further regulation coming from the side of app manufacturers by way of bills like SB 1438, serves as another precaution that helps parents have better control of what their kids access on the web.
Officials have had debates regarding the filing of such bills, such as Kara Gross, legislative director of the UCLA of Florida. Gross said HB 3 was “a government censorship law aimed at ensuring that youth do not have access to information and resources that the governor does not want them to access.”
Supporters argue that such legislation is necessary to combat the potential negative effects of social media, including cyberbullying and mental health issues among minors.
This debate calls into question the moral choices for parents who monitor their child’s phone activity. Additionally, it helps to create a safeguard precaution to make sure apps have these protections as part of their development.
The delay of the bill processing keeps the bill from being sent through other committees. Outside of this process, the bill has more rounds of talks and committees to be considered in the Legislature, provided it is amended and clears the Commerce and Tourism Committee.
However, the bill’s progress will likely influence similar legislative efforts across the country, sparking broader discussions on digital safety and parental control in the modern age.