HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister has thrown his support behind a new piece of federal legislation aimed at keeping children safe online. Known as the Safe Messaging for Kids Act of 2025, the bill is designed to crack down on the tools online predators often use to target victims, while putting more power back into the hands of parents.
The proposed law focuses on changing how social media platforms handle private messages for minors.
The Sheriff says the goal is to create a digital environment where accountability is the priority. If passed, the act would make significant changes to how apps function for younger users.
For children under the age of 13, direct messaging features would be disabled by default. For teenagers under 17, the rules would shift to give parents oversight. Parents would receive alerts if an unapproved person tries to message their child, and they would have the ability to approve or deny those contact requests.
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Chronister emphasized that these changes are necessary because of how predators operate today. He noted that criminals often rely on private or disappearing messages to hide their behavior and groom victims without leaving a trail.
“Predators thrive in private and disappearing messages,” Chronister said. “I’ve seen firsthand how these features are used to target and groom children. The Safe Messaging for Kids Act puts safety first by giving parents real control and cutting off the tools predators rely on.”
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office stated that its deputies work constantly to prevent exploitation, but legal changes are needed to stop harm before it happens.
Chronister described children as one of the most vulnerable groups on the internet. He believes this legislation supports the daily work of law enforcement by focusing on prevention.
The sheriff is now asking the community—including parents, teachers, and school leaders—to voice their support for the bill.
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