By: Patterson H.B. No. 896
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 120, Business & Commerce Code, is
  amended by adding Subchapter C-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C-1. USER AGE LIMITATION
         Sec. 120.111.  USE BY CHILDREN PROHIBITED.  (a)  An
  individual between 13 and 18 years of age may not use a social media
  platform.
         (b)  Upon amendment to the definition of "child" under the
  Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 6501 - 6506,
  this Subchapter shall apply to any person younger than 18 years of
  age.
         Sec. 120.112.  ACCOUNT AND VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. (a)  
  A social media platform shall:
               (1)  require the social media platform 's users to use
  an account to access the social media platform; and
               (2)  verify that each account is held by an individual
  who is at least 18 years of age.
         (b)  A social media platform shall verify the age of the
  account holder by requiring the account holder to provide a copy of
  the account holder's driver's license along with a second photo
  showing both the account holder and the driver's license in a manner
  that allows the social media company to verify the identity of the
  account holder.
         (c)  Any personal information provided under subsection (b)
  may only be used for age verification purposes, and the social media
  company must delete personal information immediately upon
  completion of the age verification process.
         Sec. 120.113.  REQUIRED REMOVAL OF ACCOUNT. (a)  Not later
  than 10 days after receiving a request from a parent, a social media
  company shall delete the account of the parent's child and cease the
  further use or maintenance in retrievable form, or future online
  collection, of personal information collected from the child's
  account, on all of its platforms.
         (b)  A social media company must provide a reasonable,
  accessible, and verifiable means by which a parent can make a
  request under subsection (a).
         Sec. 120.114.  ENFORCEMENT.  (a)  A social media company
  commits a violation of this Subchapter if it knowingly:
               (1)  allows a child to use its platform;
               (2)  uses or retains personal information provided in
  violation of Section 120.112(c); or
               (3)  Fails to remove an account as required by Section
  120.113.
         (b)  A violation of this Subchapter shall be considered a
  deceptive trade practice under Chapter 17, Business and Commerce
  Code, and subject to action by the consumer protection division
  under Sections 17.47, 17.58, 17.60, and 17.61, Business and
  Commerce Code.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C-1, Chapter 120, Business & Commerce
  Code, as added by this Act, applies only to access to a social media
  platform on or after January 1, 2024.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.