A new law in Texas is reshaping how social media companies interact with young users by requiring parental consent for minors to create certain accounts.
The law, known as the SCOPE Act, officially took effect on September 1, marking a significant shift in digital safety protocols for children in the Lone Star State.
The SCOPE Act, or HB 18, is part of a broader trend among states aiming to enhance parental control over their children’s online activities. The law mandates that social media platforms require explicit parental approval before allowing minors to set up accounts.
“Parents would be given the authority to consent to the platforms their children interact with online,” said Rep. Shelby Slawson (R-Stephenville), who sponsored the bill.
Slawson emphasized the risks of unmonitored social media use, citing an example in which a Texas teenager was rescued from a predator in North Carolina after being lured away through a chat app.
Despite the law’s intent to bolster online safety, a judicial ruling last week placed limitations on its enforcement. A judge blocked provisions of the SCOPE Act that would have required social media companies to filter harmful content, according to a report by Fox 4 KDFW.
Enforcement of the parental consent requirement remains uncertain as major tech companies, including Meta, grapple with how to adapt to the new regulations. Meta, which operates platforms like Facebook and Instagram, has expressed concerns over the bill’s scope but supports its basic goals.
In a past hearing, Meta highlighted its existing measures to protect younger users, including tools to monitor online interactions and detect false birthdates. The company also noted its efforts to restrict targeted ads on sensitive topics.
Nevertheless, this is not the first time Meta has found itself in Texas’ legal doghouse.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a historic $1.4 billion settlement with Meta in July for improperly collecting biometric data from millions of Texans without their consent. This settlement was the largest ever achieved by a single state related to a data privacy case.
The agreement also addressed violations of Texas’ Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
“This historic settlement demonstrates our commitment to standing up to the world’s biggest technology companies and holding them accountable for breaking the law and violating Texans’ privacy rights. Any abuse of Texans’ sensitive data will be met with the full force of the law,” said Paxton.
Meta will pay the settlement over the next five years, marking a major victory for privacy advocates and setting a stronger general standard for accountability in the tech industry.
