A new social media law, known as the SCOPE Act, is now in effect across Texas, giving parents greater control over their children’s online activity. The law aims to protect minors from harmful content and restricts social media companies from collecting data from children. However, some parts of the law have been blocked after a Texas judge ruled them unconstitutional.

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Protecting Kids from Harmful Content

The SCOPE Act, co-authored by State Representative Cole Hefner, seeks to limit children’s access to social media platforms to shield them from issues like cyberbullying and body-shaming—problems that have contributed to increased rates of self-harm and suicide among young people.

“We’ve seen the harmful effects of social media on children,” Hefner said. “This law gives parents tools to monitor what their kids are seeing and protect them from dangerous content.”

Under the new law, parents can request access to their child’s social media accounts, allowing them to supervise how their kids are using platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. Additionally, the law places restrictions on how social media companies collect data from minors and limits children's ability to shop online without parental oversight.

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Blocked Provisions: Constitutional Concerns

Despite these provisions, not all parts of the law are going into effect. One key section, which would have required social media companies to filter out harmful content for minors, was struck down after being deemed unconstitutional.

Bob Corn-Revere, the chief counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), criticized the provision, saying, “Censorship first and then ask questions later—that’s the wrong approach.” FIRE is currently suing on behalf of multiple plaintiffs, including a high school student and a content creator who shares mental health information, arguing that the law could block vital information from reaching young audiences.

Corn-Revere pointed out that minors also have First Amendment rights and that the state should not control the flow of information on social media. “This law imposes the state’s judgment on what people should see, including young people,” he said.

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Legal Battles and Uncertain Future

The SCOPE Act is currently facing two lawsuits, one from FIRE and another from tech industry groups that include members like Meta, X, and Google. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been named as a defendant in both lawsuits.

While portions of the law remain in effect, it's unclear whether social media companies will comply with the new regulations. Representative Hefner emphasized that the goal is not to restrict free speech but to protect children from harmful online environments.

“We want to balance the protection of free speech with protecting our kids from harmful content and ensuring their personal data is safe,” Hefner added.

As the law faces continued legal challenges, its full impact on Texas families and social media platforms remains to be seen.

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