In Texas, the legislative moves to restrict social media access for minors continue to stir debate. House Bill 186, crafted by Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, has made strides with bipartisan support in the House, and indications point to a favorable reception in the Senate committee as well. The bill takes a hard-line approach by banning minors from creating social media accounts and enforcing age verification, according to a CBS Austin report. Notable for its far-reaching implications, the timeline for companies to comply extends to April 2026. Sen. Adam Hinojosa, co-sponsor of the bill, voiced concerns about online safety, saying, "Like so many parents across our state, I"ve watched my children grow up in a world that feels less and less safe, not because of where they go physically, but because of where they go online," in a statement acquired by CBS Austin.
The push towards these restrictions isn't without its challenges or detractors. As CBS Austin identified, any site facilitating user-generated content falls under the bill's definition of social media, barring minors from it. Provisions are also in place for parents to have the power to petition for the deletion of their child’s social media account, with a compulsory compliance from the companies within 10 days. Furthermore, Texas joins ten other states enacting similar legislation, but their proposal stands as one of the most stringent, surpassing even Florida's existing laws aimed towards minors under 14. Senate Bill 2420, introduced by Sen. Angela Paxton and requiring age verification, was recently approved and now awaits Gov. Greg Abbott's sign-off, per a KSAT article.
Amidst this sea of regulations, there's a cohort of voices pushing back against what they perceive as an overreach. Teenagers, particularly those who have woven their online presence into their identities and ambitions, have expressed concerns to lawmakers. One such voice is Morgan McGuire, a 17-year-old Texan and TikToker with a large following who, in an interview with lawmakers obtained by KSAT, pointed out the risk of mental health harm when abruptly entering the digital world at 18 without the support systems of minorhood. William Weed, another Texas teenager and athlete, highlighted the potential disadvantage for student athletes in terms of exposure and recruitment opportunities due to these restrictions.
Yet, supporters of the bill, like Hinojosa, remain steadfast in their stance, believing that the threats posed by social media warrant such decisive action. The lawmaker cited instances of suicide and bullying among peers as justifications for the bill, as reported by CBS Austin. Despite this, concerns over First Amendment rights have been raised, with opponents like Megan Stokes, state policy director of the Computer and Communications Industry Association, arguing that the bill could unjustly restrict minors' rights to information and expression. “House Bill 186 conflicts with Texas contract law and undermines teens’ right to access information, express themselves, and participate in the digital economy," Stokes expressed in a release referenced by KSAT. Past efforts to regulate social media in Texas have faced legal pushback, and the current bills could foreseeably spark a similar outcome.
