Meta has notified Florida officials it will delete accounts for users 14 and under in the state beginning in May, aligning with a law that took effect in March. The statute — signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024 after two years of court challenges — bars under-15s from opening accounts without parental permission. Florida’s AG says violations carry $50,000 fines per account and warned cumulative penalties could reach "billions," urging other platforms to comply.
Florida Threatens Big Tech With 'Billions' in Fines as Meta Prepares To Remove Under-14 Accounts
James Uthmeier spoke at the National Conservative Convention on Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C.(Getty Images)
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier says Meta will begin deleting accounts for children aged 14 and under in Florida starting in May as the company moves to comply with the state's new restrictions on youth access to social media.
Background and Timeline
The statute, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024 and effective as of March, bans children 14 and under from creating social media accounts. Fifteen-year-olds may open accounts only with parental permission. The measure drew bipartisan support but was tied up in litigation for two years before Florida officials prevailed and began preparing to enforce the law.
What Officials Say
"I can confirm we heard from Meta, and they have announced they will be complying with our law effective in early May," Uthmeier said during an appearance on Fox & Friends.
Uthmeier warned platforms that fail to comply face fines of $50,000 per violation — a penalty he said could rapidly accumulate into the "billions" if illegal accounts are not removed.
Meta will begin removing accounts for minors under 14 in Florida starting in May.
Platforms Urged To Act
The attorney general called on other major platforms — including Snapchat, Roblox, Discord and TikTok — to follow Meta's lead. He pointed out that these companies already possess the data and technological tools needed to estimate or verify users' ages and urged immediate action to protect children from online predators and mental-health harms.
Enforcement And Expected Impact
State officials expect hundreds of thousands of accounts to be suspended once enforcement begins in May. For companies that opt not to comply, the Attorney General’s office said it will seek heavy damages and injunctive relief in court. Fox News Digital contacted Meta for comment.
Why The Law Was Passed
Proponents say the law is intended to reduce children's exposure to online predators and to address concerns about declining youth mental health and rising suicide rates. Critics have raised questions about free speech, enforcement practicality and age verification methods; those debates helped fuel the earlier litigation.
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