Texas is on track to become the next U.S. state to introduce sweeping restrictions on youth access to social media. A proposed bill that would prohibit individuals under the age of 18 from using social media platforms has cleared a Senate committee and is now awaiting a full vote in the Texas State Senate.
Key Provisions and Parental Control
If enacted, the legislation would compel social media platforms to verify a user’s age before account creation. It would also give parents the authority to request the deletion of their child’s social media accounts, requiring platforms to act within 10 days or face penalties imposed by the Texas Attorney General. The proposal builds on earlier Texas legislation mandating age verification for adult content websites.
Tougher Than Other States
This bill is more stringent than recent laws passed in other states. For example, in 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation banning social media access for children under 14 and requiring parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds. In contrast, Texas’s bill would ban all individuals under 18 from social media use, regardless of parental approval.
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Federal Push and Nationwide Context
The movement aligns with broader national efforts to regulate youth access to online platforms. While a U.S. Senate bill introduced in April 2024 aimed to ban social media for those under 13, it stalled in committee. Nonetheless, Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have expressed renewed interest in pushing it forward.
Lawmakers backing these measures often cite increasing concerns about youth mental health, data privacy, and the need for safer online environments for minors.
What’s Next?
For the Texas bill to become law, it must be approved by the full State Senate and signed by the governor. With a legislative session deadline of June 2, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether Texas will join a growing number of states imposing strict social media access limits for minors.
