Florida Social Media Law Moves Toward Enforcement
A federal appeals court lifted the injunction on a law that mandates the deletion of social media accounts for children under 14.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Internet
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A federal appeals court has lifted the injunction against a Florida law that prohibits children under 14 from maintaining social media accounts. The case now returns to district court after the appellate ruling found the legislation likely meets intermediate scrutiny standards.
Why it matters
This ruling advances a state-level regulatory push to mitigate social media addiction by imposing strict account age verification requirements. It signals a shift in how courts may evaluate First Amendment challenges against legislation aimed at protecting minors from platform design features.
The law targets platforms where at least 10% of active users under 16 spend two or more hours daily. Violations carry a penalty of up to $50,000 per instance.
The players
NetChoice
A trade association representing major social media and e-commerce platforms that challenges state-level internet regulations.
Computer & Communications Industry Association
An international trade group that advocates for the interests of tech companies regarding digital policy and First Amendment rights.
The details
The law mandates that social media platforms terminate accounts held by users under 14 and establishes a 90-day window for platforms to dispute removals. To qualify for regulation, platforms must utilize algorithms for content selection and upload, specifically featuring designs categorized as addictive. Children aged 14 or 15 may retain accounts if they provide parental consent.
Timeline
Florida passed and signed the social media law in 2024.
Trade organizations filed First Amendment challenges on October 28, 2024.
A federal appeals court lifted the injunction on October 14, 2026.
The Tech Race
This development marks a departure from earlier judicial skepticism toward state-led social media age restrictions. It places Florida's enforcement capacity at the forefront of a national legislative trend to regulate platform-specific addictive features.
Platforms operating in Florida will need to implement account termination processes for users under 14 and verify parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds. Users and parents should monitor for potential service updates or account verification prompts as companies adjust to the compliance requirements.
The takeaway
The appellate ruling moves the Florida law closer to active enforcement, setting a precedent that may influence how other states draft similar protections. Stakeholders should track the district court proceedings to see how platforms specifically operationalize account termination and consent verification.
Further reading
For broader context on digital policy and platform regulation, visit Internet.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Independent Florida Alligator.
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