Texas Passes Bill Restricting Teens' Social Media Use

Texas lawmakers approved a bill that aims to regulate teenagers' ability to use social media platforms. Unless vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX), the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (HB 18) will require social platforms to verify users' ages, and allow parents to access accounts of children under 18. The bill not only prohibits social platforms from serving “harmful” content to minors but also requires platforms to deploy filtering technology to screen out such material. The list of content deemed harmful by lawmakers includes not only material that facilitates self-harm, eating disorders, and substance abuse but also material that facilitates “grooming... or other sexual exploitation or abuse.” Much of the content Texas officials deem harmful—such as material that could encourage eating disorders—appears protected by the First Amendment. The inclusion of “grooming” in the categories of harmful content appears particularly noteworthy, given that some culture-war conservatives apply that term to a broad array of material relating to sexual orientation. Texas isn't the only state attempting to restrict teens' social media use. Earlier in 2023, Utah and Arkansas enacted bills that prohibit minors from having social media accounts without parental permission.