Latest news with #SenateBill2420
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas bill banning social media for minors fails to pass
The Brief A Texas bill (HB 186) to ban social media for users under 18 failed to pass the state legislature. Critics of the bill argue that an age requirement is an invasion of the privacy of adult users. Patterson says he will bring up the bill again in 2027. AUSTIN, Texas - A bill that would have banned children under 18 from using social media in Texas did not pass the state legislature. House Bill 186, filed by state Rep. Jared Patterson (R-Frisco), was not brought up for a key vote ahead of the end of the legislative session on Monday. Dig deeper House Bill 186 would have required social media companies to verify a user's age when they sign up for an account. Under the bill, social media companies would be required to delete a child's account at the request of a parent or guardian. Companies that do not verify age or do not remove accounts could face penalties from the Texas Attorney General's Office. Violations would be sent to the Consumer Protection Division as a deceptive trade practice. Rep. Patterson called social media the "modern-day cigarette", citing its addictive nature. He also cited recent increases in self-harm and suicide rates for teens, which he believes is connected to the rise of social media. HB 186 passed the Texas House by a 116-25 vote in April. It was not brought to the full Senate. The other side Critics of the bill argue that it's an invasion of the privacy of adult users. A similar bill in Utah was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in 2024. The judge cited concerns about the bill violating the First Amendment. Tech companies, including Elon Musk's X, have established a presence in Texas. What they're saying "HB 186 is - by far - the biggest disappointment of my career," wrote Patterson on social media. "There was no bill filed this session that would have protected more kids in more ways than this one. HB 186 failing to pass this session means I've failed these kids and their families. At least for now. It's devastating, but I'm not done, not by a long shot. My purpose in being here, in this body and with this awesome responsibility, is to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. Even against billionaires and their tactics." Patterson says he plans to file a similar bill in 2027. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a different bill to limit children's access to some applications online. Senate Bill 2420 is also known as the App Store Accountability Act. Under the law, app store operators like Google and Apple will be required to verify the age of users in Texas and get parental consent from parents before allowing minors to download an app. Apple CEO Tim Cook called Abbott and asked him to change or veto the bill, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The Source Information on House Bill 186 comes from the Texas Legislature and social media posts from Rep. Jared Patterson.
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First Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Texas set to enact age verification law for app store & play store escalating debate over kids' online safety
Senate Bill 2420, which passed both chambers of the Texas legislature, now awaits Gov. Greg Abbott's signature. The legislation would require app store operators to verify the age of a device user and, for those under 18, obtain parental consent before allowing app downloads or purchases read more A bill requiring Apple and Google to verify the age of users on their app stores is poised to become law in Texas, positioning the state at the center of a growing national debate over regulating smartphone use by children and teens. Senate Bill 2420, which passed both chambers of the Texas legislature with a supermajority, now awaits Gov. Greg Abbott's signature. The legislation would require app store operators to verify the age of a device user and, for those under 18, obtain parental consent before allowing app downloads or in-app purchases. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Texas would become the second US state to enact such a law, following Utah's lead earlier this year. A similar bill has also been introduced in Congress. Another proposed bill in Texas, still under legislative review, would ban social media access for users under 18. Polling shows broad public support for such measures. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found 81 per cent of Americans favor requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts, and 71 per cent support age verification before access is granted. The push for age verification has sparked tensions between tech giants. Meta Platforms, owner of Instagram and Facebook, has clashed with Apple and Google over where the responsibility for enforcing age restrictions should lie. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before the US Senate last year that app stores, not individual apps, should handle age verification. 'Parents shouldn't have to upload an ID or proof they are a parent in every single app their children use,' Zuckerberg said. Meta declined to comment on the Texas legislation. Advocacy groups supporting the bill argue app store-level verification is necessary to give parents meaningful control over their children's technology use. 'The problem is that self-regulation in the digital marketplace has failed, where app stores have just prioritized profit over the safety and rights of children and families,' said Casey Stefanski, executive director of the Digital Childhood Alliance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Apple and Google have pushed back, warning the bill would require the collection of sensitive personal data across all apps, even those with minimal risk. '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. Both companies advocate for a more tailored approach, sharing age data only with apps that require it. 'We see a role for legislation here,' said Kareem Ghanem, Google's senior director of government affairs and public policy. 'But it's 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.' Concerns over the impact of social media on youth mental health have intensified globally. The US Surgeon General has issued an advisory warning about the risks, and multiple states are suing Meta over alleged harm to children. Australia banned social media use for those under 16 last year, and other countries, including Norway, are considering similar steps. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from Reuters
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Was The Dream Girl In The 90s, This Is Her Recently Click Here Undo ALSO READ: Did Harvard reject Barron Trump? Truth behind his college choice has sparks buzz online 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. Live Events 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. ALSO READ: Who is Brigitte Macron and why her relationship with French President a talking point? Explained "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. ALSO READ: Why Melania Trump's $40 million documentary deal with Amazon has sent Hollywood into a tizzy 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.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas poised to enforce age verification on Apple, Google app stores
By Stephen Nellis SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -A bill that requires Apple and Alphabet's Google to verify the age of users of their app stores could become law this week in Texas, putting the second-most-populous state in the U.S. at the center of a debate over whether and how to regulate the use of smartphones by children and teenagers. Senate Bill 2420 would require app store owners to verify the age of the user of a device, and, if that user is below the age of 18, require parental consent to download apps or make in-app purchases. Utah was the first U.S. state to pass a similar law earlier this year, and U.S. 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. Age limits and parental consent for social media apps are one of the few areas of wide consensus in America, with a Pew Research poll in 2023 finding that 81% of Americans support requiring parental consent for children to create social media accounts and 71% support age verification before using social media. The mental health effect of social media on children has become a growing global concern, with dozens of U.S. states suing Meta Platforms and the U.S. Surgeon General issuing an advisory calling for safeguards for children. Australia last year banned social media for children under 16, with other countries such as Norway also considering new rules. How to implement age restrictions has caused a conflict between Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, and Apple and Google, which own the two dominant app stores in the U.S. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg last year said during a U.S. Senate hearing that he believed parents should not "have to upload an ID or proof they are a parent in every single app that their children use. The easier place to do this is in the app stores themselves." Meta declined to comment for this story. Child online safety groups that backed the Texas bill have also long argued for app store age verification, saying it is the only way to give parents effective control over children's use of technology. "The problem is that self-regulation in the digital marketplace has failed, where app stores have just prioritized the profit over safety and rights of children and families," Casey Stefanski, executive director for the Digital Childhood Alliance, told Reuters. 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. "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."
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas poised to enforce age verification on Apple, Google app stores
By Stephen Nellis SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -A bill that requires Apple and Alphabet's Google to verify the age of users of their app stores could become law this week in Texas, putting the second-most-populous state in the U.S. at the center of a debate over whether and how to regulate the use of smartphones by children and teenagers. Senate Bill 2420 would require app store owners to verify the age of the user of a device, and, if that user is below the age of 18, require parental consent to download apps or make in-app purchases. Utah was the first U.S. state to pass a similar law earlier this year, and U.S. 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. Age limits and parental consent for social media apps are one of the few areas of wide consensus in America, with a Pew Research poll in 2023 finding that 81% of Americans support requiring parental consent for children to create social media accounts and 71% support age verification before using social media. The mental health effect of social media on children has become a growing global concern, with dozens of U.S. states suing Meta Platforms and the U.S. Surgeon General issuing an advisory calling for safeguards for children. Australia last year banned social media for children under 16, with other countries such as Norway also considering new rules. How to implement age restrictions has caused a conflict between Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, and Apple and Google, which own the two dominant app stores in the U.S. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg last year said during a U.S. Senate hearing that he believed parents should not "have to upload an ID or proof they are a parent in every single app that their children use. The easier place to do this is in the app stores themselves." Meta declined to comment for this story. Child online safety groups that backed the Texas bill have also long argued for app store age verification, saying it is the only way to give parents effective control over children's use of technology. "The problem is that self-regulation in the digital marketplace has failed, where app stores have just prioritized the profit over safety and rights of children and families," Casey Stefanski, executive director for the Digital Childhood Alliance, told Reuters. 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. "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."
