State Representative Jared Patterson: “I think it’s the most dangerous product that kids have legal access to in Texas.”
DALLAS — There is growing momentum around the world to ban teenagers from social media.
Australia has already banned under-16s, while several other countries such as France, Norway, Denmark and Germany have restrictions or proposed bans.
Here in Texas, State Rep. Jared Patterson, R-District 106, has tried twice, but the legislation has not passed.
During the next legislative session, Rep. Patterson will make one big change he thinks will help get the bill across the finish line.
“I think like Australia, we’re going to come back next session and move that age down to 16 (from 18). I think that was some feedback that we got from some parents and from others, you know, kind of talking about the ages and using the last couple of years of high school to kind of get familiar with it,” the Republican lawmaker told WFAA on Inside Texas Politics.
Watch the full Inside Texas Politics episode here:
Rep. Patterson’s first effort in 2023 didn’t get very far. But during the session earlier this year, the bill made it through the Texas House and a Senate Committee, but time ran out before it was called up for a vote on the Senate floor.
Time and education will be the difference in 2027, he argues.
“I think people are starting to realize now more than ever that our kids are killing themselves at a clip that we’ve never seen before in history, that social media is a dangerous product for them to have access to,” he argued. “In fact, I think it’s the most dangerous product that kids have legal access to in Texas.”
In terms of enforcement, Rep. Patterson thinks an age verification system will work, just like it has with some pornography websites. And courts have backed age verification as a solution.
The 90th Regular Legislative Session will begin in January 2027.