Technologies

Texas Bill Would Ban Social Media for Minors. Here’s What That Would Mean

The Texas law would allow parents to request the deletion of social media accounts for those under 18.

Texas may soon pass into law one of the most restrictive set of social media rules for minors, including making it illegal for those under 18 to be on social media.

House Bill 186 would not only prohibit minors from creating new social media accounts on services such as TikTok, Instagram and X, but it would require age verification for everyone else creating a new account. Under the law, parents could request a minor’s social media account be deleted and the platform would be required to remove it within 10 days or face fines and lawsuits. Lawmakers who support the bill say it will counter the mental health harm that social media poses to teens.

The bill has passed the Texas House of Representatives and still needs to pass the state senate and get a signature from governor Greg Abbott. A similar law passed in Utah last year was blocked months later by a federal judge. A legal battle over social media restrictions in Florida is also ongoing.

Technologies

Listen in Luxury: Hermès Launching $15,000 Headphones This Summer

The French luxury brand’s first venture into the headphone martket features handstitched leather and a price that will empty your wallet.

Handstitched leather. Metallic finishes. Sleek design. A five-digit price tag. No, we’re not talking about a car, but it costs nearly as much.

Luxury brand Hermès is launching its first headphones this summer — they’re already on sale in The Netherlands — and if you have to ask the price, you might not be able to afford it. They’re $15,000. And no, they’re not solid gold.

The design, from Paris-based Ateliers Horizons, features handstitched cowhide leather and comes in colors such as naturel (dark beige), black, chocolate, rouge H (deep red) and Prussian blue. The headphones mark the first foray into audio for the company’s bespoke division.

A representative for Hermès did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There’s no word on when the headphones will be for sale in the US.

It’s the kind of unique and expensive product we’re accustomed to seeing from Paris-based Hermès, which also sells the renowned and equally pricey Birkin tote bag. The Birkin was first introduced in 1984 for $2,000, but now sells for over $13,000.

Don’t have a cool $15K to pony up for these Hermès headphones? For more modestly priced devices, check out CNET’s review of the top headphones of 2025, the best wireless ones and the best for noise-cancelling.

For a bit of perspective, for the price of one set of Hermès headphones, you could buy 33 pair of one of CNET’s top headphones for 2025, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth headphones, currently priced at $449 at Amazon.

Hermès’ new headphones are among the latest creations to come out of Hermès’ bespoke division, Ateliers Horizons, based in the Paris suburbs. Designer Axel de Beaufort and his team of around 50 have previously made audio products such as a jukebox, vertical turntable boombox, and a lacquered mahogany DJ table.

Hermèshas also had a years-long partnership with Apple to create leather straps for Apple watches.

Technologies

Maybe Don’t Wait to Buy a Phone: Tariffs Expected to Slow Smartphone Shipment Growth

The US and China will drive smartphone shipment growth despite ongoing tariff concerns.

If you’re thinking about buying a smartphone, now’s the time to start shopping around. The technology research firm International Data Corporation has lowered its smartphone shipment growth forecast to 0.6% year-over-year because of economic challenges. One of the big reasons cited is the Trump Administration’s tariffs.

In February, IDC predicted 2.3% growth for the year but that was before Trump’s tariffs, which put extra charges on items imported from other countries, especially China. The IDC updated its worldwide quarterly mobile phone tracker on Thursday to show the shift.

What does that mean for smartphone availability and prices? Here’s what you need to know.

The US and China will lead smartphone growth despite trade war

Among all countries tracked globally, the US and China will drive the 0.6% growth, with China expected to have 3% year-over-year growth in smartphone shipment growth and the US expecting a 1.9% growth rate. That’s down from the previous projection caused by the ongoing US-China trade war, said Anthony Scarsella, research director for the IDC.

The growth decline doesn’t seem temporary. It’s expected to remain in the single digits for the foreseeable future. Yet, Nabila Popal, IDC senior research director, says the slowdown in 2025 is certainly short-term and won’t impact the market long term. Growth is expected to be higher in 2026 but will still be in the low single digits due to high penetration, increasing life cycle and the increasing popularity of used smartphones.

What the smartphone growth shift means for you

The big reason for the change is that consumers are buying fewer smartphones for a few economic reasons beyond tariffs.

«I don’t think anyone expected the mayhem of April 2, and the uncertainty that followed after, which is still ongoing,» said Popal. «But a lot of the market decline in 2025 is not just due to the tariffs but also economic challenges in emerging markets stemming from unemployment, inflation and FX volatility that is tightening the consumer wallet.»

Manufacturers are impacted, too. According to IDC, Apple sales could face a decline in China this year because of competition and not qualifying for government subsidies for iPhone models.

However, that could be offset by upcoming mobile product launches, like the iPhone 17, that could boost shipments and sales. For example, the base model of the iPhone 16 was the top-selling smartphone for the first quarter of 2025 globally. The iPhone 17 upgrades are expected to do fairly well, preventing the market from a deeper decline, Popal said.

While you cannot control growth protections and cellphone prices, it’s important to do what’s best for your wallet. If you’re in the market for a new phone and you’re worried about tariffs bumping up the price of the new iPhone or limiting availability, you may consider buying sooner rather than later if you already have the money saved for it. It’s also a good time to save more to account for price increases if you don’t plan on buying right away.