AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill that would prohibit minors under 18 from creating accounts on social media platforms, marking a major development in the state’s digital regulation efforts.
House Bill 186, filed by Representative Jared Patterson, passed with a 116–25 vote. The legislation requires social media companies to verify the age of users through commercially reasonable methods. It also gives parents the right to request the deletion of their children’s accounts.
Lawmakers introduced the bill to address concerns about the potential risks social media poses to minors.
The legislation prohibits anyone under 18 from creating or maintaining an account on platforms that generate revenue from user data and allow public interaction.
Under the bill, social media companies must comply with the law by April 2026. If enacted, the legislation would make Texas the first state in the U.S. to implement a full ban on social media account creation by minors.
Violations of the proposed law would fall under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, enabling the attorney general to pursue enforcement actions against companies that fail to comply.
The bill is now under consideration in the Texas Senate. Governor Greg Abbott has not yet commented on whether he intends to sign the measure into law.
Lawmakers continue to debate the legislation’s implications, as technology companies, parent groups, and civil liberties advocates monitor its progress through the Senate.
