Florida - A federal judge has blocked Florida’s attempt to restrict children from accessing major social media platforms, ruling that the state’s law likely violates the Constitution.
U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker denied Florida’s request for a temporary injunction on Wednesday, finding the state could not show it was likely to succeed in its legal challenge.
The law, known as HB 3, sought to prevent children 13 and younger from creating accounts on platforms such as Snapchat, YouTube, and Facebook, and required parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds.
Judge Walker also rejected Florida’s motion to move the case back to state court.
Walker previously blocked portions of HB 3 during related litigation filed by technology companies, including major social media platforms, arguing that enforcement could infringe on constitutional rights.
The court noted that minors retain First Amendment protections online, even without parental consent. While Florida cited concerns about social media addiction and online safety, Judge Walker highlighted that less restrictive measures exist that could address these issues without broadly limiting access.
Attorney General James Uthmeier had argued that the law was necessary to protect young users, but the court found that the restrictions were likely overly broad.
Legal experts note the ruling could influence other states considering similar measures to regulate children’s use of digital platforms.
The case remains active as courts continue to weigh the balance between protecting minors and upholding constitutional free speech rights in the digital space.
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