Texas Law Gives Parents Greater Social Media Control

Texas’ new parental control law, House Bill 18, has pushed social media platforms like Meta (Facebook, Instagram) to roll out features allowing parents to regulate their teen’s online activity. These tools are meant to offer parents new levels of control, such as updating account settings, setting time limits, and even deleting accounts.

These features are partially motivated by mental health concerns. Research linking social media use to negative psychological well-being has spurred legislation across various states, though such efforts often face legal pushback for potential First Amendment violations. Naturally, they have also seen pushes from parents who want more control over their children’s safety and greater awareness of what their teens are doing online.

Parental control features and data privacy for minors are now becoming legal requirements rather than optional offerings. For tech companies, complying with these laws involves navigating complex legal challenges while balancing user autonomy, particularly with features that require teens to voluntarily opt into parental supervision, as seen with Snap and TikTok.

For businesses operating in or relying on social media, this regulatory wave highlights the importance of staying ahead of legislative trends. Compliance will be key, not only to avoid hefty fines but also to align with evolving public sentiment that increasingly prioritizes digital safety for younger users.

These are far from the only changes that are likely to be made, either within Texas or elsewhere in the US. Brands targeting teens and young adults may need to eventually reassess their data collection practices and advertising strategies, as regulations become stricter about how minors’ data is handled and monetized – something that has become an increasingly hot topic as more Gen Alpha children are brought up with internet access.