Advocates on both sides of the issue have said the bill would be the strictest state-level regulation yet on social media platforms if enacted. And it comes as other states across the country are considering similar restrictions amid fierce debates over free speech and whether these sort of policies are the most effective way to achieve supporters’ primary goal: improving young Americans’ mental health.
If enacted, Texas’ bill would put in place vast new restrictions that explicitly bar every Texas resident under 18 years of age from signing up for and using “a social media platform.”
The legislation would require all social media platforms to verify the age of all people setting up an account, It would allow parents to request that the platforms delete their child’s social media account — and require the companies to do so as well within 10 days.
Violations are defined the bill as “deceptive trade practices,” meaning that they would be both punishable with fines from the state’s attorney general and subject to lawsuits for financial damage.
TIME reported: Congress could potentially pass the first major legislation related to children’s online safety since 1998, as the Kids Online Safety Act, sometimes referred to as to as KOSA, was reintroduced earlier this month after stalling last year.
The bill has proven otherwise be a major talking point, garnering bipartisan support and the attention of tech giants, but that has also sparked concern re: targeted censorship from First Amendment rights groups and others advocating for LGBTQ+ communities.
Now, it will have another shot, and the bill’s Congressional supporters will have chance to state why they believe the legislation is needed in this ever-evolving digital age.
The revival of the Kids Online Safety Act comes amid U.S. and global discussions over how to best protect children online. In late 2024, Australia approved a social media Bangor under-16’s. It’s set to come into effect later this year.
Gizmodo reported: Texas is set to lead the nation in restrictive legislation. Under a proposed bill, minors would be banned from social media, while platforms would also be required to introduce age verification methods. While supporters say the change would make children safer, critics argue that such legislation may do the exact opposite.
Introduced in November, House Bill 186 would prevent minors from creating accounts on social media platforms like Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and more. Platforms would be required to use “public or private transactional data” to verify that account holders are at least 18 years old. In addition, parents could request the deletion of any of their child’s existing accounts. Companies would have to cooperate with that request within 10 days.