A Texas bill that threatened free speech has failed to move ahead in the state legislature.
The bill, HB 186, failed to pass just before the end of the Texas legislature’s session, AP reported Thursday, all but ending the push to ban social media accounts entirely for Texas children under 18 for now. Such a system would require age verification that threatens anonymous free speech. The bill also reportedly made an exception for Google’s YouTube and communist Chinese government-tied TikTok, raising serious questions of bias.
“The defeat of this bill is a solid victory for the state of Texas and for all freedom-loving Americans,” said MRC Free Speech America Director Michael Morris. “Free speech liberties, of which anonymous speech is included, are among the most important to a free society, which is why the Founding Fathers saw fit to enshrine them first, along with freedom of religion, in the Bill of Rights.”
While the bill had already passed the Texas House, it failed in the state Senate as the legislative session is to expire today, AP explained. Texas is not the only state to propose a social media ban for minors, as Florida has a similar ban for teens under 14, which is being litigated now pending enforcement.
Some critics brought up the possibility of teen entrepreneurs being affected by the legislation. Actor and director Kevin Sorbo posted last Monday, “What about student athletes and artists? You have to wait until you're 18 to have a shot at a big break now? This doesn’t sound like Texas.” Political commentator Ian Miles Cheong appeared to echo Sorbo, writing in part that same day, “So student athletes can’t get scouted now? Musicians can’t share their talent with others? Texas used to be about opportunity—not shutting kids out before they even get started.”
Independent journalist Laura Loomer blasted the legislation as “anti-free speech and anti-Parental rights,” writing in an X post Saturday:
“UPDATE: Good news. Due to lawmakers missing a key deadline in Texas to advance their draconian legislation HB186, which would have banned all minors from using social media in Texas till they were 18, the bill has been killed before it could be voted on in the Texas Senate. Monday, June 2nd is the last day of the Texas legislative session. This bill is anti-free speech and anti-Parental rights. Let parents parent.”
Meanwhile, others criticized it from a different perspective, citing the YouTube/TikTok exception. “TX house bill 186 is problematic because it carves out Google/Youtube and TikTok. Parents should decide if their kids can use the internet and social media, not the government!” author Juanita Broaddrick declared on May 23. Some still defended the bill, however. “There was no bill filed this session that would have protected more kids in more ways than this one,” claimed state Rep. Jared Patterson (R).
The bill’s defeat comes the same week that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a different bill into law. The App Store Accountability Act bill doesn’t raise the same free speech concerns. It requires parental consent and age verification for App Store downloads or purchases.
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