Florida AG Files Injunction Request to Limit Kids' Access on Meta

3 min readSources: JURIST

On October 7, 2026, Florida AG filed for a temporary injunction against Meta targeting child protections.

Why it matters: Florida’s action signals increasing state-level enforcement on social media child safety controls. Legal teams should note potential impacts on compliance and platform policies.

  • On Oct 7, 2026, Florida AG James Uthmeier filed a motion in Florida's Sixth Judicial Circuit against Meta.
  • The injunction demands removing users under 14, limiting teens to two hours daily on Meta apps, and disabling autoplay, infinite scroll, and night notifications.
  • Florida rejected the August 2026 multistate settlement with Meta, seeking stricter child-safety measures.
  • The multistate deal required Meta to add time limits, night modes, school modes, and parental controls on Facebook and Instagram.

On October 7, 2026, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a motion in the Circuit Court for Florida's Sixth Judicial Circuit seeking a temporary injunction against Meta Platforms, Inc.. The filing alleges that Meta's current practices inadequately protect children on Facebook and Instagram.

The injunction requests Meta to remove all users under the age of 14, impose a strict two-hour daily usage limit for teens across Meta’s apps, and disable features described in the filing as “addictive,” including autoplay, infinite scroll, and notification prompts during late-night hours. These measures aim to reduce potential harm and promote healthier engagement among minors.

This legal action follows Florida’s original 2024 lawsuit against Meta but explicitly diverges from the August 2026 multistate settlement where 49 states agreed with Meta on child protection features. Florida refused to join that agreement, criticizing it as insufficient, and is pursuing more stringent controls through litigation.

In the court filings, AG Uthmeier stated, “Meta's claims of maintaining safe platforms for children are contradicted by ongoing evidence of harm and inadequate protective measures.” The motion also seeks to improve Meta’s reporting systems and accessibility to content removal for material related to child sexual exploitation.

Meta has not publicly responded to the injunction request, and the court has not announced a timeline for a ruling. This case highlights the evolving regulatory landscape where state attorneys general may impose more aggressive compliance standards on social media firms. Legal and in-house counsel should monitor developments closely to anticipate shifts in platform operations and regulatory risk.

By the numbers:

  • October 7, 2026 — filing date of Florida AG's injunction motion against Meta
  • Two hours daily — proposed usage limit for teens on Meta’s apps
  • 49 states — number that joined the 2026 multistate settlement with Meta, excluding Florida

Yes, but: Florida's injunction request challenges a multistate agreement that most states view as a significant step forward, raising questions about enforcement uniformity across the U.S.

What's next: The Florida court's ruling timeline is pending; the outcome could influence future state-level social media regulations nationwide.