TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A state law that would ban social media accounts for young children can be enforced, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.The law, signed in 2024 by Gov. Ron DeSantis, would ban social media accounts for children under 14 and require parental permission for those under 16. Last June, a federal judge barred state officials from enforcing the law while a legal challenge played out. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued the order, saying the law is “likely unconstitutional.” The groups Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and NetChoice, which represent the social media platforms, sought that injunction, citing First Amendment challenges.Wednesday’s ruling by the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals says the law restricts only the creation of accounts, not social media access as a whole and is “content-neutral.”“It regulates social media platforms based on their functional capabilities and features, not the content they communicate,” the opinion reads. “The law neither references the substance of the speech on any platform nor draws distinctions based on it. Put differently, HB3 applies to platforms wholly without regard to the topics discusses or the ideas or messages conveyed on them.” More Tallahassee news:The court also says the law only targets platforms that “minors are already addicted” to and is not an outright ban but a conditional one. The law targets social media platforms “on which at least 10% of daily active users under 16 years old spend an average of at least two hours per day” and use “addictive features,” like “infinite scrolling” and “personal interactive metrics.” While the ruling said the CCIA does have standing to bring legal challenges, the law is not a speech ban. The court reversed the preliminary injunction imposed in June and sent the case back to federal court for further proceedings.According to the Associated Press, NetChoice said it was disappointed with the decision. “We are currently evaluating all of our options as we continue the fight to ensure Floridians’ right to free expression online are protected, and parents remain in the driver’s seat when it comes to making decisions for their families,” Paul Taske, a lawyer at NetChoice, told the AP.To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Nextdoor and X (Twitter).Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.
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