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Meta will begin removing accounts for minors under 14 in Florida starting in May, as the tech giant moves to comply with the state’s digital crackdown.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined “Fox & Friends” with the announcement, adding that non-compliant social media companies face steep fines that could snowball into billions of dollars.
“I can confirm we heard from Meta, and they have announced they will be complying with our law effective in early May,” Uthmeier said Thursday.
Florida’s law banning kids 14 and under from creating social media accounts went into effect in March. (Children who are 15-years-old need parental permission to open an account.) The law passed with bipartisan support and was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024. It was tied up in court for two years and is now being enforced.
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Uthmeier warned that companies will be fined $50,000 per violation, a penalty that could rapidly balloon if platforms fail to purge illegal accounts.
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“It’s been litigated in court the last couple years, we were victorious, so now we’re [going to] go out and enforce it against companies,” Uthmeier said, adding penalties could reach the “billions.”
State leaders warn social media poses risks to children’s safety. Concerns about online predators, rising suicide rates and mental health issues helped spark the legislation.
Uthmeier called on companies like Snapchat, Roblox, Discord, and TikTok to follow Meta’s lead. He noted that these platforms already possess the data and technology to identify the age of their users and urged them to take immediate action.
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“They know that kids are suffering on these applications. They know the predators are getting to kids. So we’re encouraging companies, ‘come in, sit down. Let’s work together, let’s protect our kids at all costs,'” he said.
Officials expect hundreds of thousands of accounts to be suspended in May. Uthmeier made it clear that for companies choosing not to comply, the state’s AG office will be “seeking heavy damages” and injunctive relief in court.
Fox News Digital reached out to Meta for comment.