A proposed bill in Texas aimed at banning social media accounts for children under 18 faced significant obstacles in the state Senate, resulting in a halt just before the legislative session's end. Despite passing in the House, the bill faced criticism from tech groups concerned about free speech. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not publicly stated his stance. This initiative aligns with a nationwide bipartisan effort to address children's safety on social media, highlighting concerns about addiction, inappropriate content, and online abuse.
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.
State Rep. Jared Patterson, a Republican carrying the measure, said Wednesday, 'This bill was the best way to protect children in this state.'
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.
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.
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