Texas is set to become one of the strictest U.S. states on youth social media access, as a new bill proposing a complete ban on social media use for anyone under 18 advances to a full Senate vote. Lawmakers have until June 2 to pass the legislation before the state’s current legislative session ends.
If approved, social media platforms would be required to verify users’ ages before allowing account creation. The bill also empowers parents to request deletion of their child’s account, with platforms mandated to comply within 10 days or face penalties enforced by the Texas Attorney General. This follows Texas’s earlier law enforcing age verification on adult content websites.
Compared to Florida’s law banning users under 14 and requiring parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds, Texas’s proposal is more comprehensive, restricting access for all minors under 18 regardless of parental approval. On the federal level, similar bills targeting younger children are also under discussion, reflecting nationwide concern over minors’ online safety.
With the deadline fast approaching, Texas is poised to join the growing number of states tightening regulations to address mental health, privacy, and security issues linked to youth social media use.
