Texas is on the verge of implementing the most stringent social media ban for minors in the United States, with a new bill making its way through the state legislature.
Gizmodo reports that House Bill 186, authored by Republican state Rep. Jared Patterson, is set to give Texas the strictest social media ban for minors in the nation. The measure, which has already passed the Texas House with bipartisan support, aims to curb what Patterson calls an addictive and “harmful product” that negatively impacts children.
The bill’s inception came about through discussions with multiple committees and parents of young children who expressed concern over the effects of popular social media sites like X, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat on minors. These conversations took place during the last two interims in the state Legislature, which focused on studying the issue of social media and its impact on youth.
Patterson told Fox News, “Learning more about it, we really came to the realization that this is the most harmful product that our kids have access to in terms of its addictive nature.” The proposed legislation would prohibit minors from signing up for social media accounts, require parental consent to download applications, and place warning labels about the dangers of social media.
