Texas Rep. Mary Gonzalez wants users to acknowledge social media’s risks to mental health before using platforms like Facebook.
On March 17, a House Committee on Public Health convened to discuss House Bill 499, authored by Gonzalez (D-Clint). If passed, users would be required to click a warning label confirming they understand the risks social media presents to the mental health of minors.
A similar bill was raised last year by then-U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Known as the Stop the Scroll Act, Murthy wanted platforms flagged with warnings similar to those seen on packs of cigarettes. After being introduced in September, it ultimately failed to make it out of committee.
The debate over how to handle the risks to minors persists across the country. In 2024, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law to stop minors under 14 from accessing social media.
The law, effective January 1, 2025, requires social media sites to delete the accounts of any Florida residents in their system who are under 14 years of age. The platforms have up to 90 days of the law going live to comply, with fines of up to $50,000 per violation possible.
Last year, The Dallas Express spoke with Rob Henneke, the executive director and general counsel of the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), who supported the ban in Florida.
“There’s a reason when you walk in and you buy a case of beer or pack of cigarettes or a lottery ticket or a pornography magazine, you have the cashier there to check your ID. Because it’s a longstanding legitimate role of government to protect children from harmful activities,” Henneke told DX.
Gonzalez believes clearly labeling the platforms will help inform young people and their parents about the dangers.
“We know adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face risks of anxiety and depression,” said Gonzalez, per Fox 4 KDFW. “We know when we added cigarette health warning labels, the understanding of consumption raised for the consumer.”