Plans to ban Texas kids from social media

Published

3 years ago

December 14, 2022

A state representative in Texas has developed a bill, proposing banning all minors from using social media platforms.

The bill wants anyone under the age of 18 in the state prohibited from using all social media. This includes platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

HB896 introduced by Texas Rep. Jared Patterson, will require all social media users to prove their age.

Patterson wants put measures in place to protect children from harmful mental health effects of social media.

The legislation will ban accounts being created by minors. It will also require photo identification to verify that users are over the age of 18 before an account is approved.

The bill will also allow parents to request account removal of their child, and grants enforcement of deceptive trade practices to the Office of the Attorney General if violated.

“The harms social media poses to minors are demonstrable not just in the internal research from the very social media companies that create these addictive products, but in the skyrocketing depression, anxiety, and even suicide rates we are seeing afflict children…

We are tremendously grateful for Rep. Jared Patterson’s leadership on keeping this precious population safe, and TPPF is fully supportive of prohibiting social media access to minors to prevent the perpetual harms of social media from devastating the next generation of Texans.”
Greg Sindelar, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation

Patterson described social media sites as “the pre-1964 cigarette,” with the public believing they were safe before in-depth research provided evidence of their harmful effects.

If the bill is passed, it will be the first of its kind to prohibit minors using social media platforms. It will lookregulate the likes of Meta, and ByteDance regarding minors using its platforms.

Both TikTok and Instagram have minimum age policies requiring users to be at least 13 years of age.

While both platforms enforce age verification measures, users under 13 are still on the platforms. This means parents are largely left to police their children’s use.

Some platforms try to address this issue by providing a range of safety tools for parents.

The level of government intervention proposed in Texas will be interesting to observe if it is passed and how it will be enforced.

It will also be fascinating to watch the societal and cultural impacts of such legislation and if other governments will also jump on board if it is effective.

By Dr Karen Sutherland, University of the Sunshine Coast and Dharana Digital

Sam Altman predicts superintelligence could appear by 2028

Sam Altman warns superintelligence may arise by 2028, advocating for global cooperation and a new governing body for AI.

Published

1 day ago

February 20, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Sam Altman warns superintelligence may arise by 2028, advocating for global cooperation and a new governing body for AI.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has issued a bold prediction, suggesting that early forms of superintelligence could emerge as soon as 2028. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit, Altman emphasised the urgent need for global cooperation to manage AI development responsibly.

He proposed the creation of an international oversight body for AI, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency, to prevent misuse and ensure ethical advancements. Altman also raised concerns about authoritarian control in exchange for technological gains, highlighting the geopolitical stakes of AI.

With over 100 million users in India alone, ChatGPT has become a key part of the AI landscape. Altman acknowledged potential job disruptions but expressed optimism about society’s ability to adapt to rapid AI changes.

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Tech

Apple faces legal action as West Virginia sues over child safety

West Virginia AG John McCuskey sues Apple for failing to block child abuse material on iCloud and iOS devices.

Published

1 day ago

February 20, 2026

Harvey Vargas

West Virginia AG John McCuskey sues Apple for failing to block child abuse material on iCloud and iOS devices.

West Virginia’s attorney general John McCuskey has filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc., alleging the tech giant failed to properly prevent child sexual abuse material from circulating on iCloud and iOS devices. The legal action claims the company’s strong stance on user privacy may have come at the expense of child safety protections.

McCuskey argues that other major tech firms, including Google and Microsoft, have taken stronger steps to detect and remove such content. The lawsuit intensifies scrutiny on how Silicon Valley balances encryption, privacy, and online safety.

The case could have major implications for Apple’s privacy-first branding and how platforms police illegal material moving forward.

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Tech

Zuckerberg testifies on social media addiction and child safety

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies in LA trial over claims that platforms are addictive and harmful to children.

Published

2 days ago

February 19, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies in LA trial over claims that platforms are addictive and harmful to children.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is testifying at a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles, marking a pivotal moment in the debate over online child safety. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that Meta intentionally designed its platforms to be addictive, putting young users at risk.

This is the first time Zuckerberg has addressed concerns about child safety directly before a jury, with KGM’s case acting as one of around 20 test trials aimed at gauging how jurors respond to claims that social media companies knowingly fuel harmful engagement.

The outcome could set the tone for future litigation against tech giants and reshape how platforms are designed, regulated and held accountable.

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