Social Media

Gigi Coloma says she relied on Instagram to drum up most of her business. Then she was locked out of her account for almost three months for a "horrible accusation" — the platform said it was investigating her for “child sexual exploitation, abuse and nudity" following a selfie posted by her young niece for her birthday. She's still waiting for an apology.

Forida’s chief financial officer demanded Friday that social media companies be held accountable for creating disappearing messages that handicap child sex trafficking investigations.

A U.S. District judge ruled that the law likely violated the First Amendment and issued a preliminary injunction to block it. The state, saying it is targeting addictive platforms that can harm children's mental health, quickly appealed to the Atlanta-based appeals court.

Several states have passed laws in recent years related to social-media use by children, spurring a series of legal fights.

A group of Miami fifth-graders embarked on an experiment: a 21-day digital detox. No phone, tablets or video games, with students measuring effects on sleep, focus and social connections. The challenge was simple, but the results were profound for teachers, parents and students. “It’s amazing how three weeks can change your whole life,” said one.

The law, which was one of the biggest issues of the 2024 legislative session, seeks to prevent children under age 16 from opening social-media accounts on certain platforms — though it would allow parents to give consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to have accounts. Children under 14 could not open accounts.

Florida's attorney general told reporters in Tampa that he had no role in the Hope Florida settlements. He also announced that the state would be doubling down on protecting children on social media.

Technology companies are identifying the first popular social media platforms covered under Florida's new law banning such services for young teens: Snapchat and YouTube.=

U.S. District Judge Mark Walker rejected a request by a consortium of technology companies for a preliminary injunction that would have at least further temporarily blocked the state’s ban from taking effect.

A federal judge on Friday told lawyers in a landmark social media case it would be a “hard row to hoe” for state officials to justify a complete ban on social media for young teenagers, signaling his skepticism toward the new Florida law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

A social media showdown is unfolding in Florida as a federal judge in Tallahassee considers whether to block a new Florida law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that bans social media for young teens.

A bill passed in Tallahassee last year aimed to keep kids and younger teens away from social media. But critics question its constitutionality, leading to a number of lawsuits against the state.