Earlier this year, Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill into law requiring Google and Apple to modify their app stores to verify the ages of users trying to download apps. This was done to prevent minors from downloading certain apps without parental consent.
This law was the first of its kind in the United States. Now, another Republican-led state is following suit.
This week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an online child safety bill requiring Google and Apple to ensure that their app stores verify the age of users before allowing them to download apps.
Going forward, minors will need parental approval before they can download an app or make an in-app purchase.
Predictably, Google and Apple opposed the bill.
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“We believe there are better proposals that help keep kids safe without requiring millions of people to turn over their personal information,” an Apple spokesperson said in a published statement on Tuesday.
The “App Store Accountability Act” is made to keep children safe online by being shielded from predators.
KPRC reported that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children stated that between 2021 and 2023, the number of online enticement reports increased by more than 300 percent.
The law will take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
At the federal level, a piece of legislation called the “Kids Online Safety Act” would require social media companies to take measures to prevent harm to young users. For years, whistleblowers have come forward explaining that social media companies design their products in a way that is addicting and harmful to children.
