The state is pushing for these mandates despite a broader settlement reached in August between Meta and 48 other states, Reuters reported.
Florida’s demands for Meta platform restrictions
The filing, submitted Wednesday, asks the court to compel Meta to identify and remove users under the age of 14 from its platforms within Florida. The state is also seeking to limit all teen users in Florida to two hours of app usage per day. The proposed injunction would also require Meta to disable specific engagement features for these users, including infinite scroll and auto-play video functions.
The state’s legal team argues these measures should take effect immediately and remain in place throughout the duration of the ongoing litigation. The lawsuit alleges that Meta knowingly designed its platforms to be addictive to young users and misled consumers regarding the safety of its products.
Disagreement with the multi-state settlement
While Meta reached a settlement in August with 48 states and the District of Columbia—agreeing to pay up to $18 billion and implement new safety features for teens—Florida opted to continue its own independent legal action.
In its latest court filing, the state described the multi-state agreement as a "slap on the wrist" that would be treated merely as a cost of doing business rather than a deterrent for future conduct. Florida’s requested restrictions are more stringent than the terms agreed upon in the national settlement. Specifically, the state’s proposal would block teen access to messaging services once their daily time limit is reached and prohibit Meta from serving advertisements to those users.
Meta denies wrongdoing as payout equals monthly revenue
Meta has denied allegations of wrongdoing throughout the legal proceedings, maintaining that the company is working to ensure the safety of its platforms for younger users. The total payout agreed to in the August settlement represents roughly one month of Meta’s revenue or three to four months of its profit. Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the new Florida filing.
Florida seeks stricter mandates beyond multi-state settlement
What happens to the existing multi-state settlement?
The settlement involving 48 states and the District of Columbia remains in effect. Florida is the primary jurisdiction currently pushing for additional, stricter mandates outside of that agreement.
How does Florida justify the need for stricter rules?
The Attorney General’s office argues that the changes Meta agreed to in the national settlement prove that such technological modifications are feasible. Consequently, the state contends that even more rigorous restrictions, such as total message blocking and an ad-free experience for teens, are both possible and necessary to protect minors.
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