Texas

Rising Star

Texas at a glance

Texas mandates bell-to-bell phone-free schools, ensuring their students can learn and connect with each other without distractions.
Texas has a reasonable childhood independence law that protects families from unreasonable charges of neglect.
Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed multiple lawsuits against major social media platforms and has championed legislation to protect kids online.
A Texas law requires age verification and parental consent before minors can download apps, but a federal court has blocked enforcement.
Texas has not yet passed any major laws that hold tech companies accountable.

Areas of Opportunity

Strengthening the statewide phone policy to require inaccessible storage will make it easier for Texas students to stay focused and connect with each other.
Setting a social media age minimum of 16 with no parental consent loophole will solve the collective action problem for Texas families.
Enacting laws that address harmful social media design and AI safety will protect Texas' kids from manipulative technology.
Creating legal pathways for families to sue tech companies for harm will help Texas hold big tech accountable.

These opportunities are within reach for your home state. Download our policy menu, reach out to us, and reclaim childhood in Texas.

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Dive Deeper

Childhood Development Policies

Is the state helping to solve the collective action problems families face by adopting policies that support a healthier real-world childhood?

Distraction-Free Schools
Texas law mandates bell-to-bell phone-free schools, though it does not require inaccessible storage. View the state’s Phone-Free Schools Report Card.
Childhood Independence
In 2021, Texas became the third state to pass a reasonable childhood independence law, protecting families from unreasonable charges of neglect.

Political Leadership

Is the governor championing kids' safety, and is the Office of the Attorney General using its power to hold big tech accountable?

Attorney General Leadership
Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits against multiple social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok (twice), Roblox, and Meta. He actively championed the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act.

Tech Policies

What is the state doing to address harmful tech and hold companies accountable?

Social Media Age Limits
The App Store Accountability Act requires age verification and parental consent before minors can download apps, but a federal judge blocked enforcement due to a constitutional challenge.
The law doesn't set a minimum age for social media accounts and has a parental consent loophole, leaving the collective action problem for families unresolved.
Harmful Design Regulation
The SCOPE Act would require companies to disclose how they use algorithms in minors’ accounts, but a court blocked the law on constitutional grounds because its other provisions focus heavily on restricting the categories of content that a minor can see.
Tech Accountability
Texas has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.
Incentivizing Safer Tech
Texas has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.

Family Perceptions

What do parents in the state say about their children's tech use, opportunities for independence, and real-life interactions?

IFS Resilient Childhood Score
Low. Texas parents report that their kids experience:
- Low levels of independent, unsupervised activity
- Minimal time spent playing outside and socializing with friends
- High screen time, device ownership, and tech use

This page was last updated on March 4, 2026. The Childhood Index highlights key policies and actions and is not intended to be a comprehensive list. If there’s something you think we missed or should consider, we welcome your feedback.