Latest news with #JaredPatterson
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas bill banning social media for minors fails to pass
The Brief A Texas bill (HB 186) to ban social media for users under 18 failed to pass the state legislature. Critics of the bill argue that an age requirement is an invasion of the privacy of adult users. Patterson says he will bring up the bill again in 2027. AUSTIN, Texas - A bill that would have banned children under 18 from using social media in Texas did not pass the state legislature. House Bill 186, filed by state Rep. Jared Patterson (R-Frisco), was not brought up for a key vote ahead of the end of the legislative session on Monday. Dig deeper House Bill 186 would have required social media companies to verify a user's age when they sign up for an account. Under the bill, social media companies would be required to delete a child's account at the request of a parent or guardian. Companies that do not verify age or do not remove accounts could face penalties from the Texas Attorney General's Office. Violations would be sent to the Consumer Protection Division as a deceptive trade practice. Rep. Patterson called social media the "modern-day cigarette", citing its addictive nature. He also cited recent increases in self-harm and suicide rates for teens, which he believes is connected to the rise of social media. HB 186 passed the Texas House by a 116-25 vote in April. It was not brought to the full Senate. The other side Critics of the bill argue that it's an invasion of the privacy of adult users. A similar bill in Utah was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in 2024. The judge cited concerns about the bill violating the First Amendment. Tech companies, including Elon Musk's X, have established a presence in Texas. What they're saying "HB 186 is - by far - the biggest disappointment of my career," wrote Patterson on social media. "There was no bill filed this session that would have protected more kids in more ways than this one. HB 186 failing to pass this session means I've failed these kids and their families. At least for now. It's devastating, but I'm not done, not by a long shot. My purpose in being here, in this body and with this awesome responsibility, is to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. Even against billionaires and their tactics." Patterson says he plans to file a similar bill in 2027. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a different bill to limit children's access to some applications online. Senate Bill 2420 is also known as the App Store Accountability Act. Under the law, app store operators like Google and Apple will be required to verify the age of users in Texas and get parental consent from parents before allowing minors to download an app. Apple CEO Tim Cook called Abbott and asked him to change or veto the bill, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The Source Information on House Bill 186 comes from the Texas Legislature and social media posts from Rep. Jared Patterson.
CBS News
29-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Effort to ban minors under 18 from social media in Texas fades as time runs out
A push in Texas to ban social media accounts for children under 18 faded Thursday after lawmakers did not take a key vote on creating one of the nation's toughest restrictions aimed at keeping minors off platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. The bill, which already passed the GOP-controlled state House, aims to go further than a Florida social media ban for minors under 14. Australia banned social media accounts for anyone under 16. But earlier momentum behind the Texas measure slowed at the eleventh hour in the state Senate as lawmakers face a weekend deadline to send bills to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Abbott has not said publicly whether he supported the proposed ban, which was opposed by tech trade groups and critics who called it an unconstitutional limit on free speech. "This bill was the best way to protect children in this state," state Rep. Jared Patterson, a Republican carrying the measure, said Wednesday. The legislative session ends Monday. That leaves a narrowing path for the proposal that, if passed, would set up another test of state efforts to set boundaries on how and when children can access social media. Earlier this week, Abbott signed into law a separate measure requiring Apple and Google to verify the age of online app store users, as well as parental consent to download apps and make in-app purchases for users under 18. Utah passed a similar bill earlier this year. The proposed Texas ban aimed at minors is the latest move in a growing bipartisan push nationwide to address the impacts of social media on the well-being of children. Critics accuse platforms of using addictive functions to lure children onto their site and keep them there, and of not doing enough to curb violent or age-inappropriate content, or online abuse. Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online "constantly" despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a December 2024 report published by the Pew Research Center. The American Psychological Association has called on tech companies and lawmakers to protect children's mental health, arguing that social media platforms are "particularly risky" to young people who cannot disengage from sites and struggle with impulse control. States and countries have passed various measures to address the problem, and some have run into legal challenges. A federal judge in 2024 temporarily blocked Utah's first-in-the-nation law requiring social media companies to check the ages of all users and place restrictions on accounts belonging to minors. California, which is home to some of the largest tech companies in the world, will make it illegal for social media platforms to knowingly provide addictive feeds to children without parental consent starting in 2027. And New York state allows parents to block their kids from getting social media posts suggested by a platform's algorithm. Many tech companies have established a presence in Texas, including X, which is owned by Elon Musk.
Boston Globe
29-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Texas push to ban minors under 18 from social media fades with time running out
Advertisement 'This bill was the best way to protect children in this state,' state Rep. Jared Patterson, a Republican carrying the measure, said Wednesday. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The legislative session ends Monday. That leaves a narrowing path for the proposal that, if passed, would set up another test of state efforts to set boundaries on how and when children can access social media. Many tech companies have established a presence in Texas, including X, which is owned by Elon Musk. Earlier this week, Abbott signed into law a separate measure requiring Apple and Google to verify the age of online app store users, as well as parental consent to download apps and make in-app purchases for users under 18. Utah passed a similar bill earlier this year. Advertisement The proposed Texas ban aimed at minors is the latest move in a growing bipartisan push nationwide to address the impacts of social media on the well-being of children. Critics accuse platforms of using addictive functions to lure children onto their site and keep them there, and of not doing enough to curb violent or age-inappropriate content, or online abuse. Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online 'constantly' despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a December 2024 report published by the Pew Research Center. The American Psychological Association has called on tech companies and lawmakers to protect children's mental health, arguing that social media platforms are 'particularly risky' to young people who cannot disengage from sites and struggle with impulse control. States and countries have passed various measures to address the problem, and some have run into legal challenges. A federal judge in 2024 temporarily blocked Utah's first-in-the-nation law requiring social media companies to check the ages of all users and place restrictions on accounts belonging to minors. California, which is home to some of the largest tech companies in the world, will make it illegal for social media platforms to knowingly provide addictive feeds to children without parental consent starting in 2027. And New York state allows parents to block their kids from getting social media posts suggested by a platform's algorithm.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill that would have banned Texas minors from social media misses key deadline
A bill that would have banned minors from having a social media account has missed a deadline to pass in the Texas Senate. House Bill 186, filed by Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, sailed through the House 116-25 in May, but never received a vote in the Senate several days after a slew of teenagers spoke against it during a Senate committee hearing. The contents of the bill could still be attached to another as an amendment or as part of a budget stipulation, but it is unlikely this late into the legislative session, which ends Monday. The proposal, the most far-reaching of the bills filed to address online dangers this session, would prohibit minors from creating accounts on social media sites, such as Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat and more, and require users to verify their ages. Companies would have to comply with the ban by April 2026. The bill would also allow parents to request the deletion of their child's existing social media account, and a company must comply within 10 days. The potential failure of the social media ban for minors comes as a surprise, considering Texas lawmakers have made regulating social media a priority this legislative session. Gov. Greg Abbott has already signed Senate Bill 2420, which restricts children from downloading apps, into law and emphasized his support of protecting children's online presence. 'Safety and online privacy for Texas children remains a priority for Governor Abbott, which is why he signed SB 2420 into law. Texas will empower parents to have more control over the online content their children can access,' said Andrew Mahaleris, his press secretary, when asked about Abbott's support of HB 186. Under HB 186, any website that allows users to curate and create content is considered a social media website and is cut off from minors. News and sports websites will be safe. Lawmakers are also considering House Bill 499, by Rep. Mary González, D-Clint, which would require social media platforms to have a warning label about the association between a minor's social media usage and significant mental health issues. As of June 2024, 10 states, including Texas, have passed laws restricting children's access to social media, according to the Age Verification Providers Association. Studies show that 95% of youth aged 13 to 17 report using social media, with more than a third stating they use social media 'almost constantly.' Two years ago, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Psychological Association, among other national organizations, called out social media platforms for undermining classroom learning, increasing costs for school systems, and being a 'root cause' of the nationwide youth mental health crisis. Several social media platforms and application management companies have noted that the state's measures to protect children are too far-reaching and will have an impact beyond their intended scope. An Apple spokesperson said that while they share the goal of strengthening kids' online safety, the current proposals coming out of Texas will require them to retain sensitive, personally identifiable information for every Texan who wants to download an app. Most social media platforms and online applications ask for age verification before signing up, but Texas is looking for more intensive measures, according to the Age Verification Providers Association, such as requiring a license or outright banning minors until they can prove they are older than 16 or 18. Congress is considering the Kids Online Safety Act, which does not require app marketplaces to collect and keep sensitive data, such as passports or driver's licenses, from all users to verify age. Apple supports the federal legislation's approach over Texas'. The outright ban on social media for minors has also garnered criticism from many on social media, including prominent conservative accounts such as Ian Miles Cheong, Laura Loomer, and Libs of TikTok, who have denounced the bill for excluding video games from the ban completely and for leaving a loophole open for video applications like YouTube and TikTok due to the bill's wording. 'Let people parent their children how they see fit. Parents are more than capable of controlling their children's screen time. Stop nanny state legislation. This is what Democrats do, not Republicans,' said Loomer in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The social media ban, even if passed via another bill, is expected to face challenges in court, as some argue that it violates the First Amendment. 'It's going too far. It's sweeping adult speech into it without realizing that by adding an unnecessary hurdle, it affects everyone,' said Kathleen Farley, a First Amendment lawyer for the Washington, D.C.-based Chamber of Progress. She said that, just like video games, social media, and online applications already have a voluntary ratings system that parents can access before any minor can access a website or application, and anything more stringent is usually considered too broad a restriction for the courts. 'I think all of this shows a need for people to be better educated on the current parental controls that exist in app stores. There are already ratings and ways to prevent children from downloading certain apps,' she said. 'The fact that this legislation is being pushed is either that people don't know about it, or it's too hard to use.' Disclosure: Apple and Facebook have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Texas push to ban minors under 18 from social media fades with time running out
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A push in Texas to ban social media accounts for children under 18 faded Thursday after lawmakers did not take a key vote on creating one of the nation's toughest restrictions aimed at keeping minors off platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. The bill, which already passed the GOP-controlled state House, aims to go further than a Florida social media ban for minors under 14. Australia banned social media accounts for anyone under 16. But earlier momentum behind the Texas measure slowed at the eleventh hour in the state Senate as lawmakers face a weekend deadline to send bills to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Abbott has not said publicly whether he supported the proposed ban, which was opposed by tech trade groups and critics who called it it an unconstitutional limit on free speech. 'This bill was the best way to protect children in this state,' state Rep. Jared Patterson, a Republican carrying the measure, said Wednesday. The legislative session ends Monday. That leaves a narrowing path for the proposal that, if passed, would set up another test of state efforts to set boundaries on how and when children can access social media. Many tech companies have established a presence in Texas, including X, which is owned by Elon Musk. Earlier this week, Abbott signed into law a separate measure requiring Apple and Google to verify the age of online app store users, as well as parental consent to download apps and make in-app purchases for users under 18. Utah passed a similar bill earlier this year. The proposed Texas ban aimed at minors is the latest move in a growing bipartisan push nationwide to address the impacts of social media on the well-being of children. Critics accuse platforms of using addictive functions to lure children onto their site and keep them there, and of not doing enough to curb violent or age-inappropriate content, or online abuse. Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online 'constantly' despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a December 2024 report published by the Pew Research Center. The American Psychological Association has called on tech companies and lawmakers to protect children's mental health, arguing that social media platforms are 'particularly risky' to young people who cannot disengage from sites and struggle with impulse control. States and countries have passed various measures to address the problem, and some have run into legal challenges. A federal judge in 2024 temporarily blocked Utah's first-in-the-nation law requiring social media companies to check the ages of all users and place restrictions on accounts belonging to minors. California, which is home to some of the largest tech companies in the world, will make it illegal for social media platforms to knowingly provide addictive feeds to children without parental consent starting in 2027. And New York state allows parents to block their kids from getting social media posts suggested by a platform's algorithm.
