VOA科学技术2024--Florida Approves Law Banning Social Media for Children under 14

Florida Approves Law Banning Social Media for Children under 14

　　Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a law that bans children in the state under the age of 14 from having a social media account.

　　The measure requires parental¹ permission before 14 and 15 year olds can sign up for personal social media accounts in Florida.

　　Supporters say the bill protects children from possible online harm, including threats to mental health and privacy.

　　Critics have said the law might violate the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment² protection of free speech. Some opponents have said they think parents – not the government – should be the ones to decide which restrictions³ are best for their child. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, opposed the legislation for example.

　　Florida's legislature passed the law earlier this month. It was the second version of the measure. The first version, which passed Florida's legislature in February, would have completely banned children under age 16 from social media.

　　DeSantis vetoed that version of the bill, saying he thought it was too restrictive of parental rights. But the governor's office worked with legislators to come up with a new measure he could support. The new law leaves it up to parents to decide whether their 16 and 17 year olds can sign up for social media accounts.

　　In a statement, DeSantis said research had repeatedly shown that social media services can harm children in several major ways. The legislation, he added, is designed to give parents "a greater ability to protect their children."

　　The law is set to take effect on January 1, 2025. But experts say the measure is likely to face legal challenges in court.

　　DeSantis noted⁴ that another bill he signed into law two years ago was recently struck down by a federal appeals court. That law banned employers from requiring training sessions that included discussions about race, diversity and other issues. The appeals court ruled that such training methods violated the constitutional free speech rights of employers.

　　The new law was guided through Florida's House of Representatives by Republican Speaker Paul Renner. At a bill-signing ceremony at a school, Renner said a child, whose brain is still developing, "doesn't have the ability to know that they're being sucked into these addictive⁵ technologies." He added, "Because of that, we have to step in for them."

　　The bill does not name any specific social media service. But it states that it targets social media sites using tools to get users to stay online for long periods. The measure does not cover services that mainly provide email, messaging or texting services.

　　The law requires social media companies to permanently⁶ remove personal information collected from closed accounts. And it lets parents bring civil lawsuits⁷ against services failing to do so.

　　Several U.S. states have considered similar legislation. In March 2023, Utah became the first to enact⁸ laws covering children's use of social media. Measures in Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas soon followed. Several other states are also developing new rules.

　　The Arkansas law required parental consent for minors⁹ to create new social media accounts. A federal judge blocked the law in August. The judge ruled the legislation was likely unconstitutional.

　　Florida has enacted¹⁰ additional measures aimed at protecting children from possible technological¹¹ harms. Last year, it became the first state to strongly restrict phones in schools. The law requires all public schools in Florida to ban student cellphone use and block social media services during class.

　　Words in This Story

　　challenge – n. something difficult that tests one's ability or determination

　　diversity – n. a situation in which many different kinds of things or people are included in something

　　get sucked into something – very informal idiom to become involved in a situation that you do not want to be involved in

　　addiction¹² – adj. the problem of not being able to stop doing or taking something because you are dependent on it

　　consent –n. permission

1 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。

2 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 addictive   

adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的

参考例句：

• The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。
• Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

6 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

7 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

8 enact   

vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演

参考例句：

• The U.S. Congress has exclusive authority to enact federal legislation.美国国会是唯一有权颁布联邦法律的。
• For example,a country can enact laws and economic policies to attract foreign investment fairly quickly.例如一个国家可以很快颁布吸引外资的法令和经济政策。

9 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

11 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

12 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。