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How will HB 3 affect Florida’s children and their educational success?

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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.

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Nicolas Vera is a Florida National News reporter. | politics@floridanationalnews.com

Politics

Senator Osgood & Rep. Rosenwald Push Bill to Close Racial Gaps in Mental Health & Addiction Treatment

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Senator Rosalind Osgood (D-Broward County) and Representative Mitch Rosenwald (D-Broward County) have introduced a new bill aimed at reducing racial and ethnic disparities in mental health and substance abuse treatment across Florida. The legislation strengthens the state’s Closing the Gap grant program by expanding its scope to prioritize initiatives that address inequities in behavioral health care.

“Communities of color have long struggled with systemic barriers to mental health and substance abuse services,” said Senator Osgood. “This bill ensures that we take direct action by funding programs that support those most affected by these disparities.”

The proposed amendment to Section 381.7355, Florida Statutes, will explicitly recognize racial and ethnic disparities in mental health and substance use disorder rates as funding priorities. It will also mandate that grant funding be directed toward regions with the most significant gaps in access to care.

Representative Rosenwald emphasized the bill’s potential impact on health equity. “Black and brown communities experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, often due to systemic barriers,” he said. “By including ‘behavioral health and substance abuse’ as eligible grant categories, this bill will help direct vital resources to providers serving the most vulnerable populations.”

Impact of the Bill

If passed, the legislation will take effect on July 1, 2025, marking a significant step in Florida’s broader efforts to address health disparities. By prioritizing mental health and addiction services for underserved communities, the bill could lead to improved access to treatment, reduced hospitalization rates, and better long-term health outcomes. This measure builds upon previous efforts to combat disparities in maternal health, chronic disease, and social determinants of health.

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Politics

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Protects Civil Rights and Merit-Based Opportunity by Ending Illegal DEI

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THE WHITE HOUSE – Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an historic Executive Order that protects the civil rights of all Americans and expands individual opportunity by terminating radical DEI preferencing in federal contracting and directing federal agencies to relentlessly combat private sector discrimination. It enforces long-standing federal statutes and faithfully advances the Constitution’s promise of colorblind equality before the law. This comprehensive order is the most important federal civil rights measure in decades:

  • It terminates “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) discrimination in the federal workforce, and in federal contracting and spending.
    • Federal hiring, promotions, and performance reviews will reward individual initiative, skills, performance, and hard work and not, under any circumstances, DEI-related factors, goals, policies, mandates, or requirements.
  • The order requires OMB to streamline the federal contracting process to enhance speed and efficiency, reduce costs, and require Federal contractors and subcontractors to comply with our civil rights laws.
    • It revokes Executive Order 11246 contracting criteria mandating affirmative action
    • It bars the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs from pushing contractors to balance their workforce based on race, sex, gender identity, sexual preference, or religion.
    • It requires simple and unmistakable affirmation that contractors will not engage in illegal discrimination, including illegal DEI.
  • It directs all departments and agencies to take strong action to end private sector DEI discrimination, including civil compliance investigations.
  • It mandates the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education issue joint guidance regarding the measures and practices required to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.

RESTORING THE VALUES OF INDIVIDUAL DIGNITY, HARD WORK, AND EXCELLENCE: Individual dignity, hard work, and excellence are fundamental to American greatness. This Executive Order reaffirms these values by ending the Biden-Harris Administration’s anti-constitutional and deeply demeaning “equity” mandates, terminating DEI, and protecting civil rights:

  • Reversing the progress made in the decades since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 toward a colorblind and competence-based workplace, radical DEI has dangerously tainted many of our critical businesses and influential institutions, including the federal government.
  • In the private sector, many corporations and universities use DEI as an excuse for biased and unlawful employment practices and illegal admissions preferences, ignoring the fact that DEI’s foundational rhetoric and ideas foster intergroup hostility and authoritarianism.
    • Billions of dollars are spent annually on DEI, but rather than reducing bias and promoting inclusion, DEI creates and then amplifies prejudicial hostility and exacerbates interpersonal conflict.

PRESIDENT TRUMP PROMISED AND DELIVERED: President Trump promised to terminate DEI in the federal government, protect equal opportunity, and force schools to end discriminatory admissions policies, and he delivered.

  • Every man and woman should have the opportunity to go as far as their hard work, individual initiative, and competence can take them. In America, excellence, grit, and determination is our strength.

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Politics

Monique Worrell’s Triumphant Return as State Attorney Celebrated at Orlando MLK Parade

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State Attorney Monique Worrell Receives Overwhelming Support at 2025 Orlando MLK Parade, Saturday, January 18, 2025. Photo by Florida National News / J Willie David, III

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The streets of Downtown Orlando were alive with celebration as the 41st annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade unfolded along Orange Avenue. Among the procession of floats, marching bands, and community groups, Orange-Osceola County State Attorney Monique Worrell stood out as a beloved figure, earning cheers and adoration from attendees.

State Attorney Monique Worrell visibly moved by community support at the 41st Orlando MLK Parade, Saturday, January 18, 2025. Photo by Florida National News / J Willie David, III

Worrell’s appearance at the parade felt like a victory walk as she received enthusiastic applause, countless handshakes, and heartfelt hugs from parade-goers. Many described her as “the people’s State Attorney,” a sentiment visibly etched on Worrell’s face as she smiled and engaged with the community.

MLK Parade attendees gathered in Downtown Orlando on Saturday, January 18, 2025, to support Monique Worrell’s return as State Attorney. Photo by Florida National News / J. Willie David, III.

The outpouring of support came on the heels of Worrell’s remarkable political comeback. In the 2024 election, Worrell defeated Andrew Bain, who was appointed as State Attorney by Governor Ron DeSantis after her controversial suspension in 2023. Worrell’s re-election was a powerful statement from voters who stood by her leadership. She was officially sworn in on January 7, 2025, reclaiming her role with renewed determination.

State Attorney Monique Worrell’s Chief of Staff, Keisha Mulfort, smiles during the 2025 MLK Parade as the duo returns to the State Attorney’s Office to ensure the safety of Orange and Osceola County citizens on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Photo by Florida National News / J. Willie David, III.

Worrell’s presence at the MLK Parade carried a symbolic resonance. The event, held in honor of Dr. King’s legacy of justice and equality, paralleled Worrell’s fight to return to office and her commitment to justice for all. Her supporters praised her resilience and unwavering dedication to the community.

“Monique Worrell represents what leadership should look like,” said one attendee. “She stands up for the people and fights for what’s right, no matter the obstacles.”

The MLK Parade served not only as a celebration of Dr. King’s impact but also as a moment of triumph and unity for Worrell and her constituents.

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J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
news@FloridaNationalNews.com

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