TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WSVN) – The first day of the new year means a slew of new laws taking effect in the Sunshine State. Some of them target social media and children, while others affect apartment owners.
The law banning social media is currently in effect for children under 14, with parental permission required for 15 and 16-year-olds.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said, “Thanks to things like social media, you can put your child in a house that looks safe on the surface, but there are predators that can get into your home.” .
The new law will also require platforms to identify and remove profiles of minors.
Advocates in Florida hope the law will survive legal challenges. That’s because the law doesn’t just focus on content, it also bans social media sites that attract people with addictive features like notification alerts and autoplay videos.
“More crimes against children occur on these platforms than any other venue. We know it. Social media platforms are having a devastating impact on children’s mental health. We know that,” said Florida Congressman Paul Renner.
Critics say the law is unconstitutional and that the government should not interfere in decisions parents make about their children.
State lawmakers like Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said children are not mature enough to protect themselves.
“If we can’t protect our children on this wild, western digital frontier, there’s no way they can protect themselves given their maturity and lack of life experience,” Moody said. Ta.
Social media companies do not need to immediately enforce age restrictions.
If the law survives legal challenges, companies could be subject to fines, including fines of $50,000 for each violation.
Meanwhile, three-and-a-half years after Champlain Towers South in Surfside collapsed, killing 98 people, as we enter the new year, condominium managers face increasing costs from their condominium associations. There is.
The Safety Act passed by the state legislature in 2022 requires condominium management associations to maintain sufficient reserves in preparation for major repairs and to conduct reserve fund audits every 10 years. are.
Older condominiums, primarily in South Florida, are facing large increases in payments to associations to cover reserves and repair costs, according to state records.
“There’s another Champlain Tower around the corner,” said condo owner Kelly Reuter. I hate to say this when you’re here, but you’re sitting there. A time bomb is ticking. ”
Many condo owners say they sympathize with those struggling to pay high rates, but if it means aging condo buildings can receive needed repairs, this rule is supported.
“Some nights I wake up and jump when I hear a creaking sound,” Reuter said. “Then you say to yourself, ‘No, no, no, we’re safe.’ But am I safe?”
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
