Florida AG warns social media firms could face billions in fines for child bans
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Meta will begin removing accounts of children under 14 in Florida starting in May, as the tech giant moves to keep pace with the state’s digital divide.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined “Fox & Friends” with the announcement, adding that social media companies that don’t comply face stiff penalties that could amount to billions of dollars.
“I can confirm that we have heard from Meta, and they have announced that they will comply with our law as of the beginning of May,” Uthmeier said Thursday.
A Florida law barring children 14 and under from creating social media accounts went into effect in March. (15-year-olds need parental consent to open an account.) The law passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024. He was arrested in court for two years and is now working.
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James Uthmeier spoke at the National Conservative Convention on September 3, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Dominic Gwinn/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Uthmeier warned that companies will be fined $50,000 for each violation, a fine that could quickly balloon if platforms fail to clean up illegal accounts.
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“The case was tried in court a few years ago, we won, now we have won [going to] come out and force it on the companies,” said Uthmeier, adding fines could reach “millions”.
State leaders warn social media is putting children’s safety at risk. Concerns about online victims, rising suicide rates and mental health issues helped spark the law.
Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves court after appearing in court in a lawsuit accusing Meta and Google’s YouTube of harming the minds of children through addictive platforms, in Los Angeles, California, on Feb. 18, 2026. (Mike Blake/Reuters) (Mike Blake/Reuters)
Uthmeier called on companies like Snapchat, Roblox, Discord, and TikTok to follow Meta’s lead. He noted that these platforms already have the data and technology to identify the age of their users and urged them to take immediate action.
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Meta will begin issuing accounts for children under the age of 14 in Florida starting in May. (Javier Zayaz/iStock)
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“They know that children suffer in these applications. They know that the victims reach children. Therefore, we encourage companies, ‘don’t worry, sit down. Let’s work together, protect our children in any way,'” he said.
Officials expect hundreds of thousands of accounts to be suspended by May. Uthmeier made it clear that for companies that choose not to comply, the AG’s office will be “seeking substantial damages” and an injunction.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Meta for comment.
