Texas House passes bill banning minors from using social media platforms

Texas (KSLA) - The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill prohibiting people under age 18 from creating or using social media accounts.

House Bill 186 was authored by Rep. Jared Patterson. It aims to address the concern that social media has a negative impact on the mental health of young people.

The bill was passed in a 116-25 vote with support from both sides of the aisle. The bill is now being heard in the Senate.

House bill 186 would prohibit people under the age of 18 from making or using social media accounts.

As part of the bill, social media companies would be required to verify the age of their users. It would also allow parents to request that their child’s social media accounts be deleted, and companies would have to remove the account within ten days.

It’s now up to the Texas Senate to decide if House Bill 186 will become a law or not. If passed, the law would take effect on Sept. 1, and enforcement would begin Jan. 1, 2026.