This US state poised to enforce age verification on Apple, Google app stores for users under 18
A bill that could soon become law in Texas that would require Apple and Google to verify the age of users in their app stores, putting the second-most-populous state in the US at the center of a debate over whether and how to regulate the use of smartphones by children and teenagers. The bill would require parental consent for downloading the app if the user is under the age of 18, reports news agency Reuters.
Senate Bill 2420 mandates that app store operators confirm the age of device users. If the user is under 18, parental consent would be required to download apps or make in-app purchases, the report said. Texas follows Utah which was the first US state to pass a similar law earlier this year, and lawmakers have also introduced a federal bill.
The Texas bill is awaiting Governor Greg Abbott's signature after receiving super-majority approval from both houses of the Texas legislature. Another bill, which has not yet passed the state legislature, would restrict social media apps to users over 18.
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Age restrictions and
parental consent for minors
on social media are widely supported in the U.S. A 2023 Pew Research poll found that 81% of Americans favor requiring parental consent for children to open social media accounts, and 71% support mandatory age verification.
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Concerns over the mental health impact of social media on children are growing globally and in the United States, dozens of states are suing Meta Platforms. Internationally, Australia has banned social media use for those under 16, while countries like Norway are also considering new regulations.
How has Apple reacted?
Tech giant Apple is intensifying its opposition to a Texas proposal that would require app store operators to verify users' ages and link children's accounts to parental approval — a move that could significantly impact the iPhone maker's lucrative digital ecosystem and spark broad privacy concerns. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook phoned Texas Governor Greg Abbott last week, asking him to amend or veto the bill, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Apple and Google opposed the Texas bill, saying it imposes blanket requirements to share age data with all apps, even when those apps are uncontroversial.
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"If enacted, app marketplaces will be required to collect and keep sensitive personal identifying information for every Texan who wants to download an app, even if it's an app that simply provides weather updates or sports scores," Apple said in a statement.
Google and Apple each have their own proposals that involve sharing age range data only with apps that require it, rather than all apps.
"We see a role for legislation here," said Kareem Ghanem, senior director of government affairs and public policy at Google, told Reuters. "It's just got to be done in the right way, and it's got to hold the feet of Zuckerberg and the social media companies to the fire, because it's the harms to kids and teens on those sites that's really inspired people to take a closer look here and see how we can all do better."
Texas to ban social media for teens
Texas is also poised to become the second state to enact an across-the-board ban on social media for minors before its state legislative session ends in a little over a week. Advocates on both sides of the issue have said the bill would be the strictest state-level regulation yet on social media platforms if enacted, according to NBC.
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If enacted, Texas' proposed legislation would impose sweeping restrictions that prohibit anyone under 18 from creating or using a social media account.
The bill mandates that all social media platforms verify the age of users when accounts are created. It also grants parents the right to request the deletion of their child's account, requiring platforms to comply within 10 days. Any violations would be considered 'deceptive trade practices,' making companies liable for state-imposed fines and potential civil lawsuits.
The Texas House has already approved the bill, and the Senate is expected to follow. Andrew Mahaleris, spokesperson for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, stated that 'safety and online privacy for Texas children remain a priority,' and that Abbott will 'thoughtfully review any legislation sent to his desk that seeks to accomplish these goals.'
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