Texas Implements New Law That Requires Age Checks for All Google and Apple App Store Users
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a new law requiring Apple and Google to verify the age of anyone using their app stores. Starting January 1st, minors in Texas will need a parent’s approval before downloading apps or making in-app purchases. The law also makes it mandatory for app stores to confirm that the adult granting consent is legally responsible for the child. Supporters say it's a step toward giving parents more control, but Apple and Google have pushed back, warning that the rules could compromise user privacy by forcing everyone—even adults—to hand over sensitive personal data.
Social media companies like Meta, Snap, and X support the bill, arguing it makes sense for app stores to handle age checks rather than requiring users to share personal information across multiple platforms. “Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child's age,” they said. Meanwhile, Apple has proposed an “age assurance” tool that would share only age range data with developers, calling the Texas law too broad and invasive. Apple CEO Tim Cook even called Abbott in a failed attempt to halt the bill’s passage.
Legal experts are already raising red flags. Critics argue the law could clash with the First Amendment by restricting access to protected content and putting adult speech at risk. Still, with other states like Utah enacting similar laws and federal action still stalled, Texas is leading a growing state-level push to regulate how kids access technology.
