DeSantis Applauded for Pulling Plug on Controversial Social Media Bill

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Gov. Ron DeSantis has officially killed the highly contested social media ban for minors, but that doesn't mean the Legislature is done with regulating these platforms. On Monday, Lawmakers'  quickly-drafted Plan B measure will be seen on the Senate Floor, one that they hope is more agreeable to the Governor.

"I have vetoed HB 1 because the Legislature is about to produce a different, superior bill," Gov. DeSantis wrote on "X" this morning. "Protecting children from harms associated with social media is important, as is supporting parents’ rights and maintaining the ability of adults to engage in anonymous speech,"

"I anticipate the new bill will recognize these priorities and will be signed into law soon," he added.

HB 1 was a Republican-led measure that proposed a blanket ban on all kids under 16 on social media platforms, angering conservatives and liberals alike in the bill's lack of parental rights provisions.

Following his veto, Lawmakers are editing another bill, HB 3, which hasn't been seen in Committee for weeks. HB 3 dealt with minors viewing pornographic websites, though most of its language had been added to the now-dead HB 1.

"We hope lawmakers and the Governor can work together to craft meaningful policy that helps parents and teenagers but also withstands constitutional scrutiny," the James Madison Institute, a libertarian non-profit think tank, said in a statement, applauding the efforts of both Gov. DeSantis—an opponent of HB 1, and House Speaker Paul Renner—one of the minds behind HB 1.

It appears the Institute will get its wish, as HB 3 will be pulled from Committee and placed on the Senate Floor Monday. An amendment to the bill states that a child under 16 can be on social media "with parental consent", watering down the bill by assuaging its biggest criticisms.