Under 18? A new Texas bill could block social media access

We confront the evil before us and boldly say you cannot have our children

Texas could be the next state to enact one of the most restrictive bans on social media for minors

Supporters say it's about protecting kids from online dangers, but opponents call it government

overreach. Republican House Representative Jared Patterson authored the bill and helped push it

through the Texas House, now it's up to the Senate to decide if it reaches the governor's desk

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. House Bill 186 says anyone under 18 would no longer be allowed to create or maintain an

account on social media platforms. If it becomes law, social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat

Facebook and Instagram would assume the burden of verifying all new users are at least 18 years old To do that they need to use public or private records to confirm a user age and delete that data immediately after the verification

Last week, the Senate Committee on State Affairs discussed the bill. On one side

Texas lawmakers argue that social media algorithms are designed to exploit kids' developing minds

rewarding extreme content, encouraging endless scrolling, and shutting out parents. They say it's all contributing to a growing mental health crisis among children

Social media is no longer just a place to share photos or chat with friends

It has become a powerful addictive force engineered to capture and keep our children's attention

The bill also lets parents ask social media companies to delete their child's account

and they have to comply within 10 days of the request. If a company knowingly breaks these rules or misuses any personal data

it could be subject to legal action from the state's attorney general. Lawmakers point to CDC data that lists suicide as one of the leading causes of death for young people ages 10 to 24 with social media playing a potential role I know in 2009 I think it was Facebook created or launched the like feature

And you can track, we can go back and track anxiety levels among teens and depression escalating from that time

They've called out dangerous trends like the blackout challenge, where kids attempt to choke themselves to the point of unconsciousness, and another concern, predators

Senators warn that some use platforms like Snapchat to target kids, taking advantage of features like disappearing messages and photos

But the bill also brought pushback from the high schoolers senators say they're trying to protect

The harmful content that young people are exposed to online does not disappear when they turn 18

In fact, the impact will be even more damaging. This bill throws young adults into a digital world at a time when they were living on their own for the first time without the support systems that they have as minors Opponents of House Bill 186 say the ban goes too far arguing it should only apply to kids 16 and younger

They point out that Texas allows teens to get a driver's license at 16, raising questions about consistency

Others argue not all content is harmful or dangerous. They say social media can be a creative outlet, especially for teen content creators who use these platforms to express themselves and build community

Social media can make a positive and meaningful impact. Personally, social media has given me the opportunity to earn an income legally, responsibly, in a way that has taught me real-world skills

If passed, the law would take effect in September of this year, while social media access will see a shift starting in 2026

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey. For the latest stories that are both unbiased and fact-driven, download the Straight Arrow News mobile app or head to san.com