TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Thursday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a new proposal for lawmakers that would massively crack down on teenagers using social media and chatbots.During a news conference in Tallahassee, Uthmeier discussed the proposed legislation, which he dubbed the “Safe Screens Act.”“Parents deserve real control, and companies must design for safety, not addiction,” Uthmeier said. “Florida already prohibits social media accounts for anyone under 14, and the Elevent Circuit just upheld that law. The Safe Screens Act goes further.”Per Uthmeier, the proposal would implement the following rules:Age Verification: App stores must determine a user’s age, link minors to a parent’s account, and obtain parental consent before a minor downloads or buys an app.A.I. Chatbots: Chatbot operators may not provide minors features that:Simulate companionship, such as by personification or emotional engagementEncourage self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, or illegal activityGenerate or describe sexually explicit conductSuggest the chatbot is a real humanPrioritize validation or engagement over user safety or guardrailsEncourage isolation or discourage help from appropriate adults[RELATED: Central Florida mom sues AI company she claims is responsible for son’s death]Quiet Mode: “Quiet mode” on social media platforms must block access from 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. year round, and 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on academic-year weekdays.Likes and Comments: Platforms must also hide like, comment, and reaction counts by default, and only a verified parent may enable them (with a 30-day opt-out prompt).Cosmetic Filters: Cosmetic-prcoedure filters are disabled, with use limited to two hours daily and 60 hours monthly (including messaging and long-form content), with pauses at 60 and 90 minutes.Infinite Scroll: Autoplay and infinite scroll are off by default with parent-only enablement. There are also prompts for a non-personalized feed every three days that teens cannot dismiss.Child Exploitation: Social media platforms can’t recommend teen accounts to unconnected adults or allow messaging from those adults. Child sexual exploitation reports receive human review within 48 hours, with a one-strike rule for adult offenders.If the proposal were to become law, Uthmeier said that breaking the rules would count as “unfair practices” under state law, punishable by up to $50,000 per violation.Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd also spoke in favor of the plan.“Attorney General James Uthmeier is a visionary when it comes to protecting children in Florida,” Judd said. “He steadfastly keeps their safety and security as a top priority. It takes the power and determination of an Attorney General to keep large social media and gaming companies from exploiting and endangering our children. They need to do the right thing, and James Uthmeier is going to make sure they do.”Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.
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