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Condition Rep. Jared Patterson (R-Frisco) tweeted Tuesday that he plans to file a monthly bill throughout the future legislative session that would aim to ban minors from using social media, boosting the least age for employing the platforms from 13 to 18. “It can be prolonged past time to realize the remarkable harm social media is executing to the mental wellness of younger Texans,” Patterson tweeted. “Subsequent session, we place an stop to it.”
I concur, and I’ll be introducing laws next session to ban minors from using social media.
It is very long earlier time to understand the outstanding damage social media is accomplishing to the psychological wellness of youthful Texans. Next session, we set an close to it.
cc: @RepMaryGonzalez https://t.co/bh3houSWNo
— Rep. Jared Patterson (@JaredLPatterson) July 5, 2022
Patterson’s tweet was in response to a piece posted by the Cannon Online, which likewise referred to as for limiting minor’s access to social media. The Cannon delivers commentary from the Texas General public Policy Basis (TPPF), a conservative assume tank dependent in Austin.
“Texas ought to be the nationwide chief on the difficulty of little one on the internet security by using the bold action of banning social media use by minors,” wrote Zach Whiting, senior fellow at TPPF. “States area age-limits on many behaviors, this kind of as driving, voting, using tobacco, drinking, and moving into into a valid agreement, among other items. This proposal would figure out social media as a prohibited damage to minors.”
Most social media platforms only allow for consumers age 13-and-more mature below the Children’s On the internet Privateness Security Act. On the other hand, Patterson referred to as for further limitations. He not long ago retweeted articles or blog posts about how social media might have performed a position in modern mass shootings, which include this week’s tragedy for the duration of a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, IL., that remaining at the very least 7 dead.
In an emailed assertion, Patterson mentioned that about the many years, Texas has taken steps to enhance the actual physical health and fitness and basic safety of youthful individuals, and pointed to the point out passing rules to prevent minors from paying for firearms, alcohol and tobacco, as properly as demanding car or truck seats, booster seats and seat belts.
“It’s previous time we handle psychological overall health as very seriously as actual physical overall health,” Patterson claimed in an emailed statement Thursday. “From the discussions I’ve had with university officials in latest weeks, I have arrive to improved have an understanding of the psychological health danger social media imposes on our youth. I seem ahead to owning the open discussion with my constituents and my colleagues subsequent session about raising the minimal age for social media from 13 a long time aged to 18 yrs outdated.”
Last calendar year, the state legislature handed a regulation that aimed to stop social media platforms from censoring customers based on their viewpoints. The law was heralded by conservatives, but the U.S. Supreme Court docket blocked the Texas law in Might.
It’s not the very first time Patterson has amplified similar proposals intended to protect youth. Earlier this calendar year, as portion of point out Republicans attempts to ban certain textbooks from educational facilities, Patterson and 26 other Texas Residence GOP legislators signed a letter despatched to Texas superintendents that questioned school leaders to pledge they won’t companion with e book suppliers that offer “pornographic products” to campuses.
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