Social Media Law Challenged

The Florida Legislature's attempts to regulate social media have generated plenty of work for courts. In 2021, the Legislature banned social media companies from "deplatforming" candidates for public office, raising the question of whether such companies have a First Amendment right to refuse to carry content or are they "common carriers" like phone companies that can be regulated. In 2024, the Legislature required that social media companies not let youth under 14 have accounts. And for those 14 and 15 who want one, parental consent is required. Challenges to both laws are pending.