Texas Proposes Landmark Legislation to Regulate Social Media for Minors
Texas is on the verge of enacting significant legislation aimed at overseeing social media usage among minors. A bill that seeks to prohibit social media access for individuals under the age of 18 has advanced through a Senate committee and is slated for a vote before the Texas State Senate. The legislation must be approved by both the Senate and the governor before the current legislative session concludes on June 2, leaving a limited window for its enactment.
Key Provisions of the Proposed Bill
Earlier this year, the measure successfully navigated the House committee stage and received a favorable vote from the Texas House of Representatives. If passed, this legislation would mandate social media platforms to verify the age of users creating accounts. This approach mirrors a previous Texas law requiring websites hosting adult content to implement stringent age verification systems.
Additionally, the proposed bill would empower parents to delete their child’s social media account. Social media platforms would be given a 10-day period to comply with account deletion requests, failing which they could face penalties instituted by the state’s attorney general.
Comparisons with Other States
Texas is not alone in its efforts to regulate social media access for minors. In 2022, Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, enacted a law that prohibits anyone under the age of 14 from using social media. Furthermore, the legislation requires that 14- and 15-year-olds obtain parental consent before creating new accounts or accessing existing ones. Texas’ proposed legislation is notably more stringent in its age restrictions.
On a broader national level, the U.S. Senate has also introduced a bill aimed at barring social media platforms from allowing users under the age of 13 as of April 2024. Although this bill faced challenges in the committee stage, Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have indicated a renewed effort to advance this legislation.
Conclusion
As the debate over social media regulations intensifies, Texas stands poised to implement one of the strictest frameworks in the nation targeting underage users. As the legislative session deadline approaches, stakeholders are closely monitoring the progress of this significant bill.
