A new bill moving through the Texas Legislature could bar anyone under 18 from using major social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), marking one of the nation’s strictest efforts yet to limit minors’ access to these sites.

House Bill 186, introduced by Republican state Rep. Jared Patterson, passed the Texas House with bipartisan support last month and now heads to the Senate. If it clears that chamber, it could land on Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for final approval.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Patterson explained that the bill is the result of conversations with legislative committees and parents concerned about how social media is impacting kids.

“After digging into the issue, we realized this is the most harmful product kids have access to—primarily because of how addictive it is,” Patterson said.

What the Bill Would Do

HB 186 would:

• Ban anyone under 18 from creating accounts on social media platforms.

• Require parental consent to download social media apps.

• Mandate warning labels about the potential dangers of social media use.

• Define social media broadly to include any site that allows users to create and share content.

News and sports websites would remain accessible to minors.

Texas wouldn’t be the first state to pass restrictions on social media for minors—10 states have enacted similar laws as of June 2024, according to the Age Verification Providers Association. But this would go further than any law currently on the books.

Florida, for example, restricts social media use to individuals 14 and older, but Texas’s proposed bill would raise that threshold to 18. Still, Patterson noted that the final age limit could change depending on how the Senate modifies the bill.

“When it left the House, the age was set at 18,” he said. “But the Senate can adjust that if needed. Either way, there’s broad support for doing something significant.”

The Bigger Picture

Patterson emphasized that the legislation is about protecting kids and helping parents who feel outmatched by powerful tech companies and their algorithms.

“Parents don’t stand a chance against these platforms,” he said. “These apps aren’t just for sharing photos with friends—they’re designed to harvest data and keep users hooked.”

He also criticized social media companies for their lack of accountability.

“These companies won’t even come to the table to explain the harm they’ve caused,” Patterson said. “They ignore public forums, and they refuse to answer for their role in damaging our children’s well-being. So Texas will step in and do what they won’t—protect our kids.”