March 20, 2023      7:39 PM

Texas House leadership clashes with social media giants in push to make online experiences safer for children

Rep. Slawson pushes House priority bill to crack down on algorithms that can be “most addictive to the developing minds of children.” But the parent company of Facebook argues there are “lots of algorithms that we use to keep young people safe on our platforms”

Therapists, teachers, mental health professionals, and representatives from social media companies lined up Monday in front of the Select Youth Health and Safety Committee to discuss Rep. Shelby Slawson’s House Bill 18 – the leadership’s priority bill on safety of children online.

Also known as the Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act, the bill is designed to protect youth from what advocates describe as dangerous algorithms.

“In the new scope of online social interaction, the very worst elements of society have taken root,” Rep. Slawson said in her layout. “And the kids in our state have seen increased rates of self-harm, suicide, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and other mental health issues.”

What's worse, Slawson said, is that platforms collect vast amounts of data while giving parents little recourse to intervene.

By James Russell

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