Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a groundbreaking bill into law that requires Apple and Google to verify the age of users on their app stores. Set to take effect on January 1, this legislation mandates parental consent for anyone under the age of 18 to download apps or make in-app purchases. Texas, the second-most-populous state in the U.S., is joining Utah as a leader in implementing stricter regulations aimed at protecting children and teenagers from potentially harmful digital content and unregulated spending.
This new law places Texas at the forefront of an ongoing national debate on how to regulate smartphone use by minors, a topic gaining urgency as concerns mount over the impact of social media and digital apps on young people’s mental health. Earlier this year, Utah passed a similar law, and on the federal level, lawmakers have proposed bills to enforce age verification and parental consent across social media platforms and app stores.
The Texas law reflects growing public support for such measures. According to a 2023 Pew Research poll, 81% of Americans favor requiring parental consent for children to create social media accounts, while 71% support verifying the age of users before they access social media. These statistics underscore a widespread consensus on the need for safeguards to protect minors online.
Meanwhile, another bill in Texas is awaiting Senate approval that would restrict social media access to users over 18, signaling the state’s further commitment to shielding children from the risks posed by unregulated digital platforms.
The law follows rising global concern over the effects of social media on children’s mental health. In the U.S., multiple states have sued Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over allegations of harming young users. The U.S. Surgeon General has also issued advisories recommending stronger protections for children online.
Internationally, similar measures are emerging. Australia banned social media use for children under 16 last year, and countries like Norway are considering new regulations to curb youth exposure to harmful content. Texas’s new law adds momentum to this global push for safer digital environments for children and teens.
