A proposed ban on social media accounts for minors under 18 in Texas has stalled, as state lawmakers failed to hold a critical vote ahead of a looming deadline, likely ending the push for what would have been one of the strictest measures of its kind in the U.S.
The bill, which had already passed the Republican-led Texas House, sought to go beyond Florida’s restrictions on social media use by children under 14. By comparison, Australia has implemented a ban on users under 16.
However, momentum behind the Texas legislation faltered in the state Senate late in the session, with lawmakers facing a weekend deadline to pass bills and send them to Republican Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott has not publicly expressed support or opposition to the proposal, which drew strong resistance from tech industry groups and free speech advocates, who argued it would violate constitutional rights.
“This bill was the best way to protect children in this state,” said Republican Representative Jared Patterson, who sponsored the legislation, on Wednesday.
The Texas legislative session concludes on Monday, leaving little time for the bill to advance. If enacted, the measure would have marked another major attempt by states to regulate when and how minors access social media.
Texas is home to a growing number of major tech firms, including Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter). Earlier this week, Governor Abbott signed a separate bill into law requiring Apple and Google to verify users' ages in app stores and obtain parental consent for minors to download apps or make in-app purchases — a move similar to legislation passed in Utah earlier this year.
The proposed Texas social media ban is part of a broader, bipartisan effort across the U.S. to curb the harmful effects of social media on children. Critics accuse tech platforms of using addictive features to hook young users, failing to prevent exposure to harmful content, and inadequately addressing online abuse.
A December 2024 Pew Research Center report found that nearly half of American teens report being online "constantly," despite growing concerns about the mental health impact of excessive screen time and social media use.
The American Psychological Association has urged both lawmakers and tech companies to take steps to protect young users, warning that social media poses significant risks to children and teens who struggle with impulse control and the ability to disconnect.
Various states and countries have attempted to implement similar safeguards, though not all efforts have withstood legal scrutiny. In 2024, a federal judge temporarily blocked Utah’s groundbreaking law that required social media companies to verify user ages and impose limitations on minors' accounts.
California, home to many of the world’s biggest tech companies, will ban platforms from offering addictive feeds to children without parental permission starting in 2027. Meanwhile, a new law in New York allows parents to prevent algorithm-driven content suggestions from reaching their children on social media platforms.