App Stores in Texas Under Pressure: Age Verification Mandated by Google and Apple; Potential Expansion to Teen Social Media Restrictions Looming
Texas Passes Online Child Safety Bill, Mandating Age Verification for Major Tech Platforms
In a significant move towards digital safety, Texas has signed into law a comprehensive bill that necessitates Apple and Google to authenticate user ages and secure parental consent before minors can download apps or make in-app purchases. The legislation, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, marks a step forward in safeguarding minors in the digital space.
At the heart of the debate lies the question of accountability for age verification. This legislation has sparked discord between tech giants, including Meta, Snap, and Match Group (the parent company of Tinder and Hinge), and app developers. The Lone Star State joins Utah and eight other states, according to the Age Verification Providers Association, in enacting child-focused online safety laws.
TheSupreme Court's potential hearing about age verification could shape the future digital landscape for users. Meanwhile, Texas is also proposing a more contentious measure: a statewide ban on social media accounts for individuals under 18. The bill has drawn opposition from Apple CEO Tim Cook, who reportedly communicated his concerns directly to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, advocating for revisions or a veto.
As the legislative landscape for digital safety rapidly evolves at both state and federal levels in the United States, Texas's proposed social media ban for minors under 18, known as House Bill 186, has gathered bipartisan support. If enacted, the law would prohibit minors from creating accounts on all major social media platforms, requiring age verification and mandating compliance by April 2026. Parents would also have the right to request the deletion of their child's account, with platforms required to process such requests within 10 days.
If Governor Abbott signs the bill into law, Texas would be the first state to enforce such a ban for minors under 18. Florida currently has a similar law, with an age cutoff of 14. Lawmakers are now considering raising the age limit to 16.
In relation to the broader digital safety landscape, several U.S. states have passed or are considering laws mandating age verification for accessing certain online content or services, particularly those potentially harmful to minors. These efforts increasingly require tech companies to implement effective age verification mechanisms, restrict harmful content to minors, and provide parental controls for privacy settings, screen time, and in-app purchases.
Compliance with these growing demands can incur significant costs and challenges for tech companies, while raising concerns about user experience, data security, and user rights. Furthermore, non-compliance with state laws can result in substantial fines and reputational damage. State-level actions are escalating pressure on federal lawmakers to pass nationwide standards, such as the reintroduced Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which could soon set a nationwide standard for digital safety and age verification.
Under KOSA, tech platforms would be subject to a "duty of care" to prevent harms to minors, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and addiction-like behaviors. Platforms would also need to modify features like infinite scrolling, autoplay, and notifications to minimize compulsive use by minors. The bill mandates transparency about how platforms manage minor safety, requires research into age verification, and establishes reporting mechanisms.
- The new law in Texas requires Google and Apple to implement age verification for users before they can download apps or make in-app purchases, extending to platforms such as Android and Facebook apps.
- The proposed social media ban in Texas could potentially extend to popular social media apps like TikTok and Snapchat, if minors under 18 are prohibited from creating accounts.
- The tech industry, including Meta, Snap, and Match Group, have voiced concerns about the growing demands for age verification in the digital space, citing potential challenges, data security, and user rights.
- Texas, following Utah and other states, has passed a law requiring age verification for online safety, and is also considering a proposal to ban social media accounts for individuals under 18.
- If enacted, Texas's law would make it the first state to enforce such a ban, although Florida has a similar law with an age cutoff of 14.
- Developments in digital safety legislation, such as age verification and content restrictions for minors, could lead to the reintroduction of nationwide standards like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), potentially setting a standard for tech companies and digital safety across the United States.
