Judge blocks Florida social media law restricting youth accounts

The federal judge granted a preliminary injunction against Florida’s HB 3. This is a law relating to youth and social media accounts.

Tallahassee US District Judge Mark Walker said in court documents obtained by the FOX Business that the law violates First Amendment protections regarding freedom of speech.

Walker’s ruling on Tuesday was responsible for the product group NetChoice and Computer and Communications Industry Association, pending HB 3 until the lawsuit was resolved.

“Today’s ruling is another affirmation that the government cannot control or censor online speech. Like all Americans, Floridians have the right to access legitimate speeches without the government controlling, sharing or seeing what they say online.”

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In the illustration in this photo, the Facebook logo is displayed on your smartphone screen. (Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/Lightrocket/Getty Images)

“Members should focus on real-world constitutional alternatives that respect both family autonomy and freedom of speech,” he continued.

Jeremy Redfern, spokesman Republican Florida Attorney General James Usmier; The firm defends the law, saying in a statement obtained by Reuters, “the platform has no constitutional rights to children who rely on their products.” Uthmeier’s office will appeal it to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, he said.

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will speak at a press conference held at the ICE Executive Office in Miramar, Florida on May 1, 2025. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

HB 3 is required Social Media Platforms Prohibits users under the age of 14 and requires users under the age of 16 to obtain parental consent before opening an account. It was supposed to come into effect on January 1st, but was put on hold due to the lawsuit.

NetChoice, which represents a social media platform, has I will win the injunction In recent months against similar laws in Utah and California, they have restricted the use of social media platforms by young people.

The image in this photo shows the YouTube logo that appears on your smartphone. The trade group representing social media companies in court celebrated their victory in Florida this week. (mateusz slodkowski/sopa images/lightrocket/getty images)

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In Tuesday’s ruling, Walker said parents are worried about their children’s use of social media, but thanked them for the other challenging provisions of the law offering them to resort to them. Industry groups did not address some of the laws directing social media companies to delete their youth accounts at parental requests.

Reuters contributed to this report.