A federal appeals court on Wednesday allowed Florida to enforce a state law barring children under 14 from using social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. The court rejected claims by two technology industry groups that the measure violates free speech protections under the US Constitution.

In a unanimous ruling, a three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based appeals court overturned a preliminary injunction issued by a lower court that had blocked the law from taking effect.

The court said the law does not regulate the content that social media sites offer and therefore does not conflict with the First Amendment, Reuters reported.

The law targets platforms with so-called "addictive features." These include autoplay video and endless streams of clips. Such platforms are prohibited from allowing children under 14 to open accounts.

NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association filed a lawsuit in 2024 seeking to halt the law. Their members include Meta Platforms, TikTok and Snapchat.

Florida was among the first states to pass legislation regulating children's use of social media. The law comes amid a broader debate over the role these apps play in shaping young people's mental health.