Florida Wins Court Ruling to Enforce Social Media Law on Teens

Florida secured a significant court victory Wednesday, clearing the way for the state to enforce restrictions that bar children under 14 from holding social media accounts and impose additional limits on teenage users.

Signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024, the measure was among the most restrictive social media laws targeting children in the United States.

The law raises First Amendment concerns, the appeals court said, but the panel determined that it “likely does so in a content-neutral manner.”

The legislation would probably withstand a full legal challenge because it does not restrict significantly more speech than necessary to serve the important goal of protecting minors from social media addiction, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously.

Under the law, children younger than 14 cannot create social media accounts in Florida. Users who are 14 or 15 must obtain parental permission to use the platforms.

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The Computer & Communications Industry Association and NetChoice, two industry trade groups, sued the state. They argued that Florida’s social media restrictions violated the free-speech rights of both online platforms and their users.

A federal judge ruled in 2025 that the law was likely unconstitutional and issued an injunction blocking its enforcement.

The injunction was paused while the appeals court reviewed the case. With the injunction now overturned, the lawsuit will return to federal court in Tallahassee.

The appeals court said the law applies to social media platforms “that have been determined to induce heavy use by children.” It covers only services that use algorithms along with at least one of several features considered addictive.

The Florida attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. NetChoice said it was disappointed by the ruling.

“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 representing NetChoice.