Florida Can Enforce Under-14 Social Media Ban After Appeals Court Ruling

Appeals court clears path for enforcement

Florida won a key court decision Wednesday that allows it to enforce a ban on social media accounts for children under 14 and other restrictions, according to a 3-0 opinion from a panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The judges said the law implicates the First Amendment but likely does so in a content-neutral manner, and that it would likely survive a full legal challenge because it does not burden substantially more speech than necessary to advance the important interest in protecting minors from social media addiction.

What the Florida law requires

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the law in 2024. It bans social media accounts for Florida children under 14 and requires parental consent for use by children who are 14 or 15. The appeals court said the law covers platforms that have been determined to induce heavy use by children and applies only to platforms that use both algorithms and one of several addictive features. The Computer & Communications Industry Association and NetChoice sued Florida, arguing that the law violated the free-speech rights of social media providers and users. A judge in 2025 found that the law likely was unconstitutional and granted an injunction, which was put on hold while the appeals court heard the case. With the injunction overturned, the lawsuit returns to federal court in Tallahassee.

Industry groups vow further fight

NetChoice said it was disappointed with the decision. "We are currently evaluating all of our options as we continue the fight to ensure Floridians' rights to free expression online are protected, and parents remain in the driver's seat when it comes to making decisions for their families," said Paul Taske, a lawyer at NetChoice. An email seeking comment from the Florida attorney general's office was not immediately answered.

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