Politics
How will HB 3 affect Florida’s children and their educational success?
JACKSONVILLE, Fl. (FNN) — This week, House Speaker Paul Renner introduced legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 14 from becoming social media account holders. Kids ages 14 and 15 could have access to certain sites with parental consent.
Florida follows Texas, Utah in banning social media access to young children
The bill, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, follows a similar outline to that of Texas’ SCOPE Act that was passed in 2023 — albeit with a few caveats. For one, the Texas bill has a lot more stipulations on the digital service provider as companies have to ‘register the person’s age with the DSP’ in order to prevent them from altering their registered age. For Florida youth, the language in HB 3 is unclear as the bill states ‘certain’ accounts and ‘certain’ minors must be prohibited from account creation but there is little specification as to what those circumstances revolve around.
In the states News Release, Ron DeSantis stated “Social media harms students in a variety of ways,” and that statement has some merit considering the impact that social media use has on behavior as a whole within the classroom. Its evident that social media has created a culture of attention-seeking in ways that can be harmful towards kids futures.
Whether it be recording themselves in class for a TikTok dance or prank, or recording themselves fighting and committing crimes inadvertently; these type of behaviors have been on the rise over the past decade as ‘viral culture’ has become a new norm. This phenomenon has been well documented as the APA has published:
“over 50% of teens reporting at least one symptom of clinical dependency on social media.”
This type of dependency has become all too pervasive on school campuses around the nation. Anecdotally, as a former educator at an elementary school I previously worked at, the kids in 4th and 5th grade had an outburst of mass Snapchat chat rooms that started real-life altercations on school grounds and around the neighborhood. The school ultimately decided that an outright ban on those group chats would be the best way forward and it seems like Florida lawmakers are following a similar route as far as young children are concerned.
AI services like ChatGPT are seen as convenient shortcuts for students who outright use the program(s) to write entire essays and fill out homework assignments at a moments notice. Not only are these practices unhealthy for student development, in some cases they can prove damaging for students who rely on those softwares in college.
The legislation for academic discipline being prepared in Ireland is another example of how researchers and college students at the highest levels must be held accountable for their dependence on artificial intelligence. These advancements in AI technology are now “regarded by academics as a much greater threat because they are typically free and easy to access” but does accessibility necessarily mean convenience when the consequences are so high?
The rise of pornography consumption brought by the social media era
Another facet of danger towards children is increased introductions to pornographic material — and it’s happening at an earlier age than other generations. The American College of Pediatricians published a study in 2016 on The Impact of Pornography on Children that lists a host of risks associated with ‘ubiquitous’ consumption of pornography that affects how young kids start to perceive relationships between men and women.
The study states that ‘Children under twelve years old who have viewed pornography are statistically more likely to sexually assault their peers’ and that alone should give parents pause when considering how freely they want to let their children access the internet. Not only could they be exposed to negative material but predators will often try to use pornographic material as a means to victimize and exploit children for their own grooming purposes.
As kids get older, their discernment for what is productive and meaningful media to digest increases slightly. However, parental advisement on the matter of safety and awareness on the internet is just as crucial towards kids knowing the difference between what is right and wrong, online or offline. The ubiquitous nature of these social media sites are inescapable even for most adults.
That’s why it’s imperative to bring the future generations up correctly when it comes to navigating the troubled waters of social media consumption. While there are no current statistics of how these new laws have benefitted children in these states (FL, TX, UT), we have a moral obligation to curb the tide of illiteracy brought by the COVID years. Among the ten most illiterate states in the nation, Florida ranks 9th with a 76.3% literacy rate.
This stat comes at an interesting crossroads for Florida’s classrooms as books are banned at an extraordinarily high rate within the state. Some parents even classifying certain books with LGBTQ topics and sex education books as “pornography” which has become a controversial viewpoint amongst lawmakers. That and the increased clamp down of books propagating ‘critical race theory’ have made Florida a hot bed state for these kinds of omissions on their curriculum.
Because of vague language within these laws, librarians and educators alike have to operate on the side of fear when it comes to including new material. No one wants to lose their teaching license over teaching a book with material that may be unwanted by parents. Thus, laws like the Parental Rights in Education bill have to be looked at with scrutiny because their vague language can cause unwanted strife and conflict amongst school boards in every county.
Are Florida lawmakers operating in good faith with these laws? More than likely. But the precision to which these laws apply towards schools overall must be updated in order to ensure not only that kids are safe and productive, but also make sure that their education isn’t being disrupted by nefarious practices that disrupt learning for the sake of a political agenda.
Nicolas Vera is a Florida National News reporter. | politics@floridanationalnews.com
Crimes and Courts
Florida Creates Public Assistance Fraud Task Force, Appoints Special Prosecutor to Crack Down on Fraud
Florida
Former Property Appraiser Rick Singh Launches Clerk of Courts Bid, Passes on Mayor and CFO Races
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Rick Singh, a U.S. Army veteran, business leader and former Orange County property appraiser, has announced his candidacy for Orange County Clerk of Courts, outlining a platform focused on efficiency, modernization and improved customer service.
While some observers expected Singh to pursue higher-profile offices such as Orange County mayor, Florida chief financial officer or Congress, his decision to run for Clerk of Courts reflects a focus on operational leadership and improving local government services.
“I’m running to make government work faster, smarter and more efficiently for the people of Orange County,” Singh said. “Residents deserve a Clerk’s Office that is responsive, transparent and built for today’s needs.”
PLAN TO MODERNIZE AND IMPROVE SERVICES
Singh outlined several immediate priorities if elected, including upgrading technology and expanding digital access.
“We will modernize the system by reducing long lines, enhancing online services and making it easier for residents to access records, make payments and interact with the Clerk’s Office,” Singh said.
His plan includes improving website and mobile access, streamlining in-person services and reducing wait times for residents.
FOCUS ON EFFICIENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
In addition to modernization, Singh said he will prioritize operational improvements and customer service reforms.
“We will overhaul customer service to prioritize speed, respect and accountability,” Singh said. “That includes auditing operations to eliminate delays and inefficiencies that frustrate residents.”
Singh emphasized that creating a more efficient and user-friendly experience will be a top priority from day one.
EXPERIENCE, INNOVATION AND COMPETITIVE FIELD
During his tenure as property appraiser, Singh led the office with the scope and visibility of a countywide constitutional role, implementing reforms that improved transparency, accuracy and efficiency.
His annual “State of Orange County Real Estate” events drew thousands of attendees, including elected officials, real estate professionals, financial leaders and community stakeholders, positioning the office as a key platform for economic insight and public engagement.
Supporters point to Singh’s track record of innovation — including modernizing systems and improving operational performance — as a model for how he would lead the Clerk of Courts office.
“I’ve led a large countywide office and delivered results,” Singh said. “I’m ready to bring that same level of leadership, innovation and accountability to the Clerk of Courts.”
His entry into the race adds to an already competitive field that includes Maribel Gomez Cordero, a current county commissioner and former vice mayor, and Emily Bonilla, a former commissioner and vice mayor, both of whom bring experience in local government leadership and community engagement.
APOPKA, Fla. (FNN) — Apopka voters have elected Nick Nesta as the city’s next mayor following a decisive runoff victory over Christine Moore.
Nesta, a current Apopka city commissioner, secured 61.94% of the vote, defeating Moore, who received 38.06%, according to unofficial results with all precincts reporting. Voter turnout was approximately 20%, based on data from the Orange County Supervisor of Elections.
LANDSLIDE RUNOFF VICTORY
Nesta’s win marks a significant political shift in the city of about 60,000 residents in northwest Orange County. The two candidates advanced to the runoff after emerging as the top vote-getters in the initial election, which unseated incumbent Mayor Bryan Nelson.
The margin of victory — nearly 62% — underscores strong voter support for Nesta’s campaign message and leadership vision.
CAMPAIGN DYNAMICS AND VOTER RESPONSE
Despite Moore receiving endorsements from prominent leaders and organizations, including the Orlando Sentinel, voters ultimately favored Nesta’s platform.
Observers say the results suggest local voters prioritized campaign messaging and community connection over high-profile endorsements, including that of the outgoing Apopka mayor, whom voters rejected in the initial election.
IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS
Nesta’s victory could offer insight into voter sentiment ahead of the August 2026 primary elections across Orange County and beyond.
Political analysts note that the outcome may signal a broader trend in which voters are responding more strongly to local issues and candidate engagement than to traditional political backing.
Nesta is set to assume leadership of Apopka as the city continues to address growth, infrastructure and community development priorities.
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