Florida AG proposes Safe Screens Act to tighten app, social media and AI rules for minors

Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier unveiled the Safe Screens Act, a bill that would impose new safety requirements on app stores, social-media platforms and artificial-intelligence chatbots that serve minors. The proposal mandates that any digital marketplace determine a user’s age, link minors to a parent’s account and obtain parental consent before a child can download or purchase an app. It also requires operating systems to enforce age-appropriate device restrictions.

New design defaults for teen social-media accounts

For users aged 14 to 17, the bill sets strict default settings. A “quiet mode” would block access from 11 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. year-round, plus 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. on academic-year weekdays. Likes, comments and reaction counts would be hidden by default unless a verified parent enables them, with a 30-day opt-out prompt.

Other limits include disabling cosmetic-procedure filters, capping daily use at 2 hours and 60 hours monthly, pausing after 60 and 90 minutes, and turning off autoplay and infinite scroll by default. Teens would receive a non-personalized feed prompt every 3 days that they cannot dismiss. Platforms may not recommend teen accounts to unconnected adults or allow messaging from those adults, and child sexual exploitation reports require human review within 48 hours.

Restrictions on AI chatbots for minors

AI chatbot operators would be barred from offering features that simulate companionship, emotional engagement, user-data retention, unsupervised therapy, or sexual content, or claim to be human. They also could not encourage self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, illegal activity, or isolation, nor could they prioritize engagement over safety.

Enforcement and penalties

Knowing or reckless violations would be treated as unfair practices under section 501.1736, Florida Statutes, with fines up to $50,000 per violation. The Attorney General’s Office could stop violations, seek damages, impose fines, and maintain a public website to track incidents.

What this means for families

Parents and minors will see major shifts in how digital platforms operate if the legislation passes. App stores and similar marketplaces must verify user ages and secure parental consent before a minor downloads or buys an app. Families using social media will encounter mandatory bedtime shutoffs, hidden reaction counts, and screen-time caps for teens aged 14 to 17. Additionally, children interacting with AI tools will be shielded from chatbots designed to simulate human companionship or encourage isolation. Because the source does not list a specific enactment deadline, families should monitor official updates from the state.

Anyone unsure how the new requirements affect their family’s digital habits may want to consult an attorney who specializes in consumer protection or technology law to ensure compliance and understand their rights.

This article is general information based on Florida Attorney General 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 22, 2026.