Texas House Bill HB3862

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 3/5/25

Caption

Relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children.

Impact

This legislation is set to amend the existing Business and Commerce Code by adding specific provisions related to the use of social media by minors. Among its implications, the bill aims to enhance online safety for children by restricting their access to platforms that could expose them to harmful content. The requirement for age verification may also lead to significant operational changes for social media companies, requiring them to adjust their customer onboarding processes and privacy policies.

Summary

House Bill 3862 aims to prohibit children under 18 years of age from using social media platforms. The bill mandates that social media companies must verify the age of an individual before allowing them to create an account. This verification must be conducted using government-issued identification to ensure compliance. Additionally, the bill stipulates that any personal information collected during this process must be deleted immediately after verification, ensuring that minors' sensitive data is protected.

Contention

Notably, there are points of contention regarding the feasibility and enforcement of such age verification measures. Critics may argue that mandating social media platforms to implement these verifications poses privacy concerns and could lead to misuse of sensitive information. There may also be concerns over the potential exclusion of younger users from social interactions and their ability to access certain online resources that could be educational or beneficial.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Education Code

• Chapter 38. Health And Safety
  • Section: New Section