Texas is pushing a bill to block under-18s from joining social media platforms

In a nutshell: Texas wants to emulate Florida by imposing a ban on minors signing up for social media accounts, but it would go even further: while Florida bars those under 14, the Texas proposal would raise the minimum sign-up age to 18. House Bill 186, which was introduced in November, is currently making its way toward becoming a law in Texas. It has already passed the Texas House with bipartisan support, and it appears to be gaining plenty of approval from members of the Senate, paving the way for Governor Greg Abbott to sign it into law. The bill would ban individuals under the age of 18 of from signing up for social media accounts. It would also require parental consent to download apps, and place warning labels about the dangers of social media. Any website that allows users to create content and share it will be considered a social media platform, so it seems that YouTube will fall under this designation. The bill doesn't apply to email, news, or gambling sites. Rep. Jared P ... Read full article.