AUSTIN – The Kids Code Coalition applauds the Texas House’s consideration and passage this week of Rep. Mary Gonzalez’s warning labels bill HB 499, which now heads to the Texas Senate after a bipartisan third reading vote of 98-46.

“Parents and kids deserve to know that there’s more evidence every day about serious risks social media use poses to kids’ health and wellbeing. That’s why it’s so encouraging to see momentum building in Texas, as well as across the country, to make social media warning labels a reality so kids, parents and families can stay informed,” said Kids Code Coalition spokesperson Marjorie Connolly. 

The legislation, which would require social media platforms operating in Texas to issue a warning to a user each time the user opens the platform concerning the association between a minor’s social media usage and significant mental health issues and require users to verify they understand the warning before they are able to operate the platform, is supported by a broad coalition of Texas medical professionals, parents and youth advocates.

“Young people deserve to know that social media can cause lasting mental harm and this is a common sense step to educate children and adults alike about how to take care of their mental health when online,” said Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) spokesperson Ayaan Moledina, a 9th grader in Austin.

The Kids Code Coalition is a wide-ranging group of national and state organizations dedicated to improving youth online security and privacy by supporting policies that ensure companies prioritize kids’ and teens’ safety and developmental needs when designing digital platforms and products.

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