A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida’s 2024 law that aimed to restrict minors’ access to social media platforms, citing potential violations of First Amendment rights.
Florida House Bill 3 known as the “Online Protections for Minors” act, restricts social media access for minors. It prohibits those under 14 from having accounts, requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds, and mandates age verification for platforms with explicit content for those under 18.
The bill was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis and took effect on January 1, 2025.
The ruling grants a preliminary injunction while the broader legal challenge, brought by the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), moves forward.
The CCIA, along with its co-plaintiff NetChoice, had filed an amended complaint and renewed motion for a preliminary injunction in March to block parts of Florida’s HB3 that would restrict protected free speech in violation of the Constitution.
NetChoice believes the legislation is nothing more than government overreach and says parents and guardians are better equipped to manage their children’s online activities than the government, and the bill inappropriately involves the state in family matters.
“This bill has unintended negative consequences:
NetChoice warns that the bill could have unintended negative consequences, such as making it harder for Floridians to access information and connect with others online,
“Like other district courts around the country, this Court simply recognizes that the First Amendment places stringent requirements on the State to avoid substantially burdening speech unless the State can show that doing so is necessary to achieve its significant interests,” said CCIA President and CEO Matt Schruers.
Schreurs said the ruling vindicates their argument that Florida’s statute violates the First Amendment by blocking and restricting minors—and likely adults as well—from using certain websites to view lawful content and they look forward to seeing this statute permanently blocked as a violation of Floridians’ constitutional right to engage in lawful speech online.
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