A Social Shift in Texas: Lawmakers Push to Ban Kids from Social Media

This week, the Texas House passed a controversial bill that could ban kids under 18 from creating social media accounts. Yup, another state is following the goal of ensuring kids can still be kids. If the bill becomes law, teens across Texas may soon need to log off for good… or at least until adulthood.

But what’s really behind this push, and how might it impact the rest of us?

What’s in the Bill?

It's more than just banning TikTok for teens.

House Bill 186, led by Rep. Jared Patterson, would block minors from creating any new social media accounts, require platforms to verify user age, and even let parents demand their child's account be deleted,with platforms having just 10 days to comply.

And that’s not all. Another bill (HB 499) would require platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) to slap warning labels on their apps, calling out the risks of social media on teen mental health. Think cigarette-pack warning energy, but for your feed.

Why Now?

Lawmakers are calling it a crisis. Many users already feel it.

Texas isn’t alone in raising the alarm. Across the U.S., concern is growing over the effect of social media on young users. Studies show:

• 95% of teens (13-17) are active on social platforms

• 1 in 3 say they use it "almost constantly"

• 40% of kids aged 8-12 are using platforms meant for 13+

That last one hits hard. Most platforms technically require users to be at least 13, but millions of kids are already online. And the long-term effects? Still largely unknown.

The Mental Health Link

It’s not just screen time, it’s self-esteem, attention span, and emotional stability.

Mental health professionals and educators have warned about the impact for years. Increased anxiety, depression, bullying, and distraction in school are all connected to excessive social media use. Organizations like the American Psychological Association have even called platforms a “root cause” of today’s youth mental health crisis.

Even classrooms aren't immune. Teachers are seeing more emotional outbursts, attention issues, and tech-fueled peer drama, all while school budgets stretch to manage it.

What Happens Next? - Texas Lawmakers' Goal To Ban Kids from Social Media

More restrictions, more lawsuits, more conversations.

The bills now head to the Texas Senate, where they’re expected to pass. If signed into law, they could go into effect later this year, though legal challenges are likely. Tech companies have already hinted at First Amendment concerns, arguing the bans would limit free speech.

Meanwhile, other bills in Texas are pushing for even tighter controls like age-verification tech and third-party safety tools built into social platforms for minors.

What About the Rest of Us?

If lawmakers are trying to protect kids... what should adults take away from all this?

The fact that states are trying to regulate it this hard says something bigger: maybe the apps we thought were harmless aren't so harmless anymore.

Whether you're 18, 28, or 35, it's worth asking:

• Am I using social media intentionally?

• Is it helping me connect, or making me feel more alone?

• What boundaries am I setting, if any?

  
  

A New Era of Online Interaction?

Maybe the question isn’t whether kids should be online, it’s how we all should be.

As Texas lawmakers push to ban kids from social media, with other states move forward, one thing’s clear: the way we use social media is under the microscope. And while platforms scramble to adjust, we can start taking our digital lives into our own hands.

That means choosing platforms that respect privacy, don’t thrive on comparison, and actually encourage real connection, not just another scroll session.

The internet isn’t going anywhere. But how we choose to engage with it? That’s entirely up to us.