Texas Enacts Law Requiring Age Verification for App Downloads to Enhance Child Online Safety

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a new online child safety law requiring Apple and Google to verify users’ ages in their app stores for all Texas residents. Under this legislation, minors must obtain parental approval before downloading apps or making in-app purchases. Both Apple and Google opposed the bill, with Apple expressing concerns over the privacy implications of collecting sensitive personal information from millions of users, regardless of the app’s nature. The law, which takes effect on January 1, 2026, reflects a growing trend of state-level regulation in the absence of comprehensive federal legislation. Similar laws have already been enacted in Utah, and the federal Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) remains stalled in Congress. The debate has pitted app store providers against social media companies, with Meta advocating for Apple and Google to take responsibility for verifying users’ ages. Apple has recently introduced its own child safety measures, such as requiring age selection on new devices and parental consent for users under 13. Texas has a history of challenging tech companies through legislation, previously banning social media platforms from removing users based on political viewpoints. The new law underscores ongoing tensions between privacy, child safety, and tech industry practices.