FILE – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference in Miami, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
Overview
On June 3, 2025, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker granted a preliminary injunction blocking Florida from enforcing HB 3—a law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024 that would have barred social media accounts for children under 14 and required parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds—after trade associations NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association challenged it as an unconstitutional restriction on minors’ free-speech rights .
Background
Florida’s HB 3 was among the nation’s most restrictive youth-social-media laws, aiming to prevent those under 14 from opening accounts and to force platforms to obtain verifiable parental permission for users aged 14–15 .
Legal Challenge
Industry groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association sued, arguing HB 3 violated the First Amendment by directly burdening young people’s right to access and engage in protected speech online .
Court Ruling
Judge Walker agreed, finding the law “likely unconstitutional” for restricting minors’ speech rights, though he left intact a provision allowing parents to request deletion of their children’s accounts .
Reaction & Next Steps
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier condemned the ruling and promptly announced plans to appeal to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals . Meanwhile, NetChoice hailed the decision as a win for online free speech, and similar youth-social-media bans in Georgia, Utah, and California remain tied up in court challenges .
Key Takeaways
Enforcement Halted: Judge Walker’s injunction prevents HB 3 from taking effect, pausing Florida’s ban on under-14 social-media use and its parental-consent requirement for 14- and 15-year-olds .
Constitutional Concerns: The law was blocked because it likely infringes on minors’ First Amendment rights, as argued by NetChoice and CCIA .
Appeal Ahead: Florida will appeal the injunction to the 11th Circuit, even as analogous statutes in other states face similar judicial setbacks
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