Florida cleared to enforce child social media restrictions after appeals court ruling

In a major legal victory for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, a divided federal court has ruled that Florida can now enforce its sweeping 2024 restrictions on children’s access to social media.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order allowing enforcement to move forward while litigation continues. The ruling reverses a June decision by a federal district Judge who blocked implementation, finding the law likely violated constitutional protections.

Two of the three appellate Judges disagreed with that assessment, determining it is unlikely the measure unlawfully restricts First Amendment rights and that the lower court misapplied legal standards.

The ruling means Florida can begin enforcing prohibitions that bar children younger than 14 from opening accounts on many majo