MicroWaveFeb 22, 2024

Florida gets closer to banning social media for kids under 16

https://lemmy.world/post/12281007

Florida gets closer to banning social media for kids under 16 - Lemmy.World

Florida is on the verge of passing one of the nation’s most restrictive bans on minors’ use of social media after the state Senate passed a bill Thursday that would keep children under the age of 16 off popular platforms regardless of parental approval. The measure now goes back to the state House, where the speaker has made the issue his top priority during the legislative session that ends March 8. Still, critics have pointed to similar efforts in other states that have been blocked by courts. The bill targets any social media site that tracks user activity, allows children to upload material and interact with others, and uses addictive features designed to cause excessive or compulsive use. Supporters point to rising suicide rates among children, cyberbullying and predators using social media to prey on kids.

Show threadoxjoxFeb 22, 2024

I can’t get over how this “limited government” party has gone from supporting parental rights and promoting family values to becoming fascists.

To be clear, there’s a ton of good to be said about preventing kids from using social media. Still, this should be up to the parents and, imo, all parents should limit or restrict it.

Isn’t this same as the cigarette and alcohol ban for minors, I hear you ask? No. Alcohol and cigarettes can be purchased from a shop. The government isn’t explicitly telling parents the kids can’t consume them, it’s banning the sale to minors. Social media and cell phones aren’t really something a 14 year old can get at a store or happen upon at a party. So, if smoking was legal and the parent restricted their 14 year old from smoking, it wouldn’t be too difficult for the kid to get a pack of their own. Social media is different. And shouldn’t involve government restrictions. Because, how the F is the government going to oversee and reprimand this?

Show threadorbit
Simple, it’s not really about the kids, it’s about control of the internet.
Feb 22, 2024 at 11:24pmWeb
Show threadUranium3006Feb 23, 2024
They learned from FOSTA that people will not fight internet censorship bills if they're targeted at vulnerable minorities.