The Florida House of Representatives has advanced a bill that would prohibit kids under the age of 16 from accessing social media regardless of whether they have their parent’s approval, pointing to the need to protect children from online sexual predators and cyberbullying.
The House voted 106-13 to approve the measure, HB 1, which is considered a top priority for the chamber’s speaker.
“This is about protecting children from addictive technology and what we know harms them – and what the social-media platforms know. For years, they have known this and they have failed to act. By your vote today, we have done so,” Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Paul Renner told House members after the vote.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, children and adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
“We have gaps in our full understanding of the mental health impacts posed by social media but at this point cannot conclude it is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents,” reads a statement from the department.
“The truth is, people use these platforms
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