Florida Asks State Court for Emergency Limits on Teen Meta Use
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has renewed legal pressure on Meta, asking a state court to issue a temporary injunction. The filing seeks to immediately limit minors’ access to Facebook and Instagram while enforcing the state’s 2024 online child protections law.
Florida originally sued Meta in 2024. The lawsuit claimed the company misled parents about platform dangers in violation of the Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. In the latest motion, the attorney general criticized Meta for failing to remove young users quickly and leaving addictive features in place.
Proposed App Restrictions and Feature Limits
The state’s new court filing demands that Meta eliminate specific features designed to keep users engaged, such as like counts and infinite scrolling. Uthmeier also asked the court to cap teen screen time at two hours and stop late-night notifications on the apps.
These demands follow an August agreement where Meta settled with 47 states and Washington D.C. for up to $17.1 billion in civil penalties. That national settlement included time caps, notification limits, and access restrictions between midnight and 6 a.m. However, Florida did not join the multi-state agreement.
Source: Courthouse News Service
State Criticizes National Settlement Terms
Explaining why Florida stayed out of the nationwide deal, Uthmeier called the multi-state settlement a minor penalty that fails to cover children in the state. Citing Meta’s profits, the attorney general argued that local children should not be left behind.
In response to the earlier settlement, Meta Chief Legal Officer C.J. Mahoney defended the company’s protective measures and called for an industry-wide solution. Meta did not immediately respond to the newest court filing.
What This Means for Florida Families
The state’s online child protections law completely bans children under 14 from holding social media accounts. It also requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to create profiles.
Parents and guardians must navigate these restrictions while federal and state regulators target major tech companies. Alongside Meta, the attorney general has pursued legal action against Snapchat, TikTok, and Roblox over age verification and child safety concerns.
When dealing with complex tech regulations, digital safety rules, or corporate disputes, talking to a qualified attorney may help clarify how state actions impact your household.
What this means: our conclusions
- What to watchIndependent State Strategy
Florida's refusal to join the multi-state deal means the state will pursue its own stricter mandates through local courts.
- ContextStricter App Controls
If granted, the injunction could force Meta to implement feature changes like screen caps and disabled like counts for Florida minors.
- RiskBroad Tech Industry Scrutiny
With active lawsuits against Snapchat, TikTok, Roblox, and Meta, social media companies face continuous state-level enforcement.
- What to doCheck Minor Account Settings
Parents and guardians should review household device settings, verify age requirements, and monitor children's app usage.
| Company | Action Taken by Florida | Core Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Meta | Temporary injunction motion | Flouting child protection law and addictive features |
| Snapchat | Lawsuit filed in April | Violations of the minor social media ban law |
| TikTok | Lawsuit filed two months after Snapchat | Violations of the minor social media ban law |
| Roblox | Legal action last year | Insufficient age verification controls |
Source: Courthouse News Service
This article is general information based on Courthouse News Service and court or agency records available at publication time. It is not legal advice; laws and deadlines differ by state and by case. Published October 8, 2026.
Source: Courthouse News Service
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