What do you think of Texas trying to ban social media accounts for anyone under 18?

Question

This bill, HB 186, introduced by a Texas lawmaker, would prohibit minors from creating or maintaining social media accounts. It stems from concerns about online dangers like cyberbullying, pornographic images, and online exploitation, which school districts are struggling to address. Proponents of the bans argue that they are necessary to protect minors from online dangers, cyberbullying, and potential harm, and to address concerns about their mental health and well-being.

If passed, it would require social media platforms to verify user age and remove accounts of minors if requested by parents or guardians. It stipulates that companies must delete a child's account upon request from a verified parent or guardian and cease any further collection of personal information. Violations of these provisions are classified as deceptive trade practices, subjecting the companies to enforcement actions by the attorney general's consumer protection division. If passed, these regulations would take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to access to social media platforms starting January 1, 2026.The bill also outlines penalties for companies that violate these provisions.

The bill has currently passed in the house, and is now moving on towards the Senate.

Your thoughts?

ohsheeT · Accepted Answer

5 years and more I turned off my TV it's all bullsheet it take 14 days to brainwash someone. . Watch What happens when it's time for an election on here? Everybody sounds exactly like their favorite news media. right- the left And whatever the news media says to their audience is what the audience says to other people It's ridiculous and people just keep watching keep For ten days or acting like they know what really going on in the world. Stop watching TV. And you will see what's really going on

Trump and musk went into social security basically. What they did is they did a lot of things. One purpose, 1 purposely, because whoever was out to get Trump. When trump got impeached it was payback time and that's what they did

Now , if you go on youtube , Both sides have videos now. Blaming the other are telling how evil the other ones are. It's all evil.
Kids do not need to know what the internet has to offer and they do

The internet was made So we could have the whole world.
Right in our hands. It should be regulated. And take off the b******* Yes, it's a good idea. We shouldn't even be on it

Somebody needs to watch out for kids Because our government sure isn't parents aren't. It's not a bad idea

Cormac995 · Accepted Answer

Study after study after study has said that this is a great fucking idea for 1. Mental health 2. Social development. 3. Increase chances of being successful dating and many other things. Social media is worse than the atom bomb with what it's done to society and the human psyche frankly for our own good social media should be banned all together period but then you're telling legal adults how to live their lives and we run into freedom of speech issues and then things get complicated and you end up in a moral debate.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I think it's a good idea.

I was born in the 80s so I didn't have my first mobile till 2002.

I know how to stay away for long periods of time without internet.

I feel. sorry for these kids today.

There's so much online bullying, crazy sites that get young people to do stupid things.

Online content is getting worse. The less the kids use it, the better.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Accepted Answer

I don’t agree with censorship as a principle. I can understand why people want to keep their kids from certain things, but that’s more just because you’re not ready to educate your child on it, not because they’re not ready to learn about it. There’s no such thing as “some” censorship and that’s what this bill is pushing for.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I am thoughtsing as you requested:

- to ''ban'' something is a present trend (in the U. S., mainly). It' s much easier than to teach people about ethics or about being life savvy.

- Anyone under age now (and before as well) will just register with a fake birth date

- ''Mental health and well being'' weren't even discussed in my own youth - yet I became a relatively useful and unscathed member of society

- although the intentions are well meaning... the methods used were already outdated by the mid of last century

- the politicians who decide over such things are mostly quite detached by own age from those they try to ''protect''; there's not only an issue with ''under-age'' - but also one with ''over-age''

- There could be an attempt to create a -well- ''youngster'' social media (adults excluded) - but that could be too simple, couldn't it.

- Texas... well: yeah and yee-hah... just register the account in a more sane state legislation?

Stevepro68 · Answer

Another attempt by the government to take over a parent's job. I have a teenager and I knew what he was doing and how often. This is the latest incarnation of hysterical think of the children narrative that so invades politics. Similar to video games causing behavioral problems. It's easy to fix a problem that doesn't exist with nonsense legislation.

molonski2 · Answer

Great idea..

Australia has done same , just absolutely TOXIC habit for young people and people just can't self regulate , let them know there is actually a thing called LIFE. Get outta the dark , its vital young people understand this , exercise , sport , study , movies and others.

Physical activity.

AviatorTom · Answer

That is government overreach. Most bans just encourage a black market, ways of getting around a ban. There are better ways to try to protect children from the bad things on the Internet.

Just wondering how such a ban might affect students' ability to do schoolwork online.

Grimraed · Answer

It isn't up to the government to raise nor meddle in the affairs of it's citizens to this degree. Parents need to be parents and monitor their kids activities online. It's honestly hard to believe that people still leave their kids with unrestricted access to the internet. I mean c'mon most of you all who are parents now grew up that way and let's be honest, it isn't a good thing. I know because I grew up with unrestricted access.

WonderingManII · Answer

Sometimes I think people 18,19, and even 20 should be banned. Maybe nobody under the age of 30 should be using social media. LOL Social Media has got a lot of crap on it, and those that make the rules, can't seem to make good rules that fit every user. As far as Texas banning it. How are they going to enforce the ban?

SeekerOfTruth007 · Answer

What are they going to do? Ban video games too? Most online cyberbullying is actually happening in the chat rooms of the multiplayer video games, as is most advertisement of child pornography. Banning the offenders does nothing, because they just create another account and come right back.

DrPepper12 · Answer

I understand their concern but I think this would end up the same way as prohibition, you can't legislate this issue away.

It would be much more productive to repeal section 230 of the federal telecommunications Act. Social media will clean its act up right away when they're responsible for whats posted on their medium.

Jackblue · Answer

Truly we have learned nothing, it is parents and family members who are the biggest threat to children's safety (especially in the sort of conservative households which try and deny children any personal liberty and make them afraid to question adults) not some online nutjob. By trying to remove them from the internet we are taking a way for them to reach out for help and learn of their rights, it isn't about safety it is about control.

Lliam · Answer

I don't have a problem as long as the ban is only triggered against individuals per request from a verified parent or guardian. It gives parents a certain amount of control over their children.

NoDecision · Answer

I think it is a good idea because most cyber bullying comes from 7th-12th grades. They just can't keep their fingers off the "send" button. The less teen suicides caused by this bullying, the better.

glennos89 · Answer

That's a obvious one if you look at the mental health state of children below the age of 18 that where born and raised with social media access. A lot of them suffer from lonelyness and mental health issues

OneViewpoint · Answer

While I don't disagree with the sentiment in principle, how is it ever gonna be enforced? Just more political theater that doesn't actually do anything.

Miristheiss · Answer

Hmmm, I do believe social media is harmful and the longer kids stay off their phones and off of that crap the better but I don't know how you stop it. Is there some age restriction verification that kids couldn't get around or outsmart?

slatyb · Answer

It is likely to be struck down by the Supreme Court as the enforcement of such a law requires users to identify themselves, which has been ruled an unconstitutional restriction on free speech.

Anonymous · Answer

It’s a good thing. Social media is bad for the mental health for people if any age really but people under 18 there brain is still growing and hasn’t fully developed yet.

bddddd · Answer

We are doing the same in Australia but with an age of 16. The evidence that social media has destroyed a generation of young people is overwhelming. Depression, suicide, collapse in social outings, age of first dating and first sex has risen.

DCVsMarvel2 · Answer

For a party that claims "get your hands out of my business", they seem to love putting their hands all over peoples business

The republican parties animal, is literally, the elephant. REPRESENTING LARGE GOVERNMENT

zagor · Answer

Texas does a lot of stupid shit but this might be OK. Kids (and adults) spend way too much time on that stuff. My sister comes to visit and spends her time staring at TikTok.

loveslongnails · Answer

Texas, like any red state, is just afraid that kids will have access to truth and not just the propaganda they want to control. In a red state, it's never  really about the kids when they say it's about the kids.

Shiprex · Answer

Be pretty difficult but that's Conservatives trying to control behaviour of people and choosing children as the easiest targets

Sirenboobzilla · Answer

Banning things never works. People, even kids, find a way

DonaldDarko · Answer

A useless gesture, people will just get them anyway.

BDRick · Answer

I respect what they are getting at. The act of banning social media is one thing, but the meaning behind it is another: to get people out of their own heads & back to common grounds

Babygirl_S · Answer

Immature people don’t really know how to handle their online presence. They post abnormal content. Only mature teenagers should post

LilLesbLover · Answer

Did they forgot how pornhub manages to have so many child users? Kids fucking lie about their age all the time

Godihateyou · Answer

It's a fantastic Idea. I have 2 teen daughters. They do not have access. All of their class mates have mental issues. Body issues. The boys are porn obsessed zombies. They watch porn throughout their lunch break. At 13. Disgusting.

Maskx · Answer

It’s like how in my state (New York) they have banned cellphones in school. Both parties are using lawfare to try to assert more control over the people and especially the impressionable youth.

Friendlybro79 · Answer

I actually agree minors should be off social media.

LiamJHayden · Answer

One Party-dominated states tend to eventually go off the rails

RingOfFire · Answer

Great idea... keeps the perverts away from our kids!

msc545 · Answer

I think Texas lawmakers should mind their own fucking business and stop trying to legislate morality and push right-wing politics.

blackeagle007 · Answer

They can do whatever, but it still won’t stop a minor to get one. Faking age…

Caughtulookin · Answer

I think it would be very healthy. Social media is a disease that needs a vaccine.

captain_voidwalker · Answer

I don't have any problem with it. Social media is brain rot for children.

seeyounexttuesday · Answer

Not the governments responsibility to parent my children.

Anonymous · Answer

So you have to provide id to join social media or something?

Entertained_Adult · Answer

Ill have nobody to sext with.

Gwendoline · Answer

Completely unpoliceable

lightbulb27 · Answer

essential! too dangerous...

coachTanthony · Answer

Go for it! Love the idea

lyrem04 · Answer

They’re gonna find away it’s rlly silly

alice55 · Answer

good things but impossible to do

Agape93 · Answer

That will stop literally nobody

exitseven · Answer

It is a good idea but impossible to enforce.

Hellraiser1984 · Answer

Go for it. The Internet is a dangerous place.

Jltakk · Answer

Should have happened decades ago.

jahaims · Answer

Its easy to use work arounds.

shortster · Answer

Good idea. Social media is the bane of society.

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Save the hot cowgirls, TUCK FEXAS !!!

Zoi2000 · Answer

They’ll lie about their age then.

Anonymous · Answer

I support Texas.

Slimart · Answer

Up to the parents

Panthero80 · Answer

I think it is a good idea.

Babebytheshore85 · Answer

Good..

hello4433 · Answer

That's good

RedInnocent69 · Answer

Good luck

Pterodon · Answer

All for it

What do you think of Texas trying to ban social media accounts for anyone under 18?

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