B2 – Upper Intermediate
Florida has recently approved a groundbreaking law that bans children under the age of 14 from having a social media account. This legislation aims to address concerns about the impact of social media on very young users and to promote a safer online environment for children.
Read this article and listen to the audio to learn more about this law.
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/florida-bans-social-media-for-children-under-14/7545764.html
Vocabulary Questions:
- What is the meaning of “veto”? “DeSantis vetoed that version of the bill, saying he thought it was too restrictive of parental rights.” Give a synonym of the word “veto” and make a sentence with it.
- What does “to leave it up to someone” mean? “The new law leaves it up to parents to decide whether their 16- and 17-year-olds can sign up for social media accounts.” Make a sentence with this expression.
- Define “strike down”. “DeSantis noted that another bill he signed into law two years ago was recently struck down by a federal appeals court.” Use this in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What is your opinion on Florida’s new legislation prohibiting social media use for children under 14? Do you think this kind of bill is need in your country? Expound.
- Do you believe this law will effectively protect children from the dangers of social media? Explain.
- Share your opinion on this, “Parents – not the government – should be the ones to decide which restrictions are best for their child.”.
- How could this law impact the way children interact and communicate with their peers?
- Do you think there are more effective ways to address the challenges social media presents to young children instead of an outright ban?