Florida AG proposes Safe Screens Act to regulate teens' social media use

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a new legislative proposal called the Safe Screens Act aimed at cracking down on teenagers' use of social media and chatbots, WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando reported.

The proposal seeks to give parents more control and require companies to prioritize safety over addiction in designing social media platforms. Florida already bans social media accounts for children under 14, a law recently upheld by the Eleventh Circuit Court, and the new act would extend these protections.

If enacted, violations of the Safe Screens Act would be considered unfair practices under state law, with penalties up to $50,000 per violation, according to Uthmeier.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd expressed support for the proposal, calling Uthmeier a visionary focused on protecting Florida's children and ensuring social media and gaming companies act responsibly.