In a decisive action to ensure online safety, Utah has become the first U.S. state to pass a law requiring app stores to verify users’ ages before allowing minors to download apps. The new legislation, known as S.B. 142 or the App Store Accountability Act, was signed into law by Governor Spencer Cox and will take effect on May 7, 2025. This law shifts the responsibility for age verification from app developers to the app stores themselves, such as Google and Apple.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
The App Store Accountability Act represents a landmark step in addressing growing concerns over online children’s safety and data privacy. The law mandates that all app stores, including Google Play and the Apple App Store, verify users’ ages and secure parental consent before minors can access or download apps.
This legislation was introduced in response to concerns that social media platforms and other apps have not done enough to protect children from inappropriate content and online risks. By placing the responsibility on app stores, Utah aims to streamline the process of ensuring that only age-appropriate content is accessible to younger users.
In a statement, Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat supported the bill, praising Utah’s initiative to give parents more control over their children’s online experiences. “Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child’s age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it,” they said.
However, not everyone agrees with this approach. Apple has expressed concerns about the bill, stating that only a few apps require age verification. Apple believes parents should not be forced to share sensitive information about their children with app stores. The company argued that verifying a buyer’s age, such as in the case of alcohol purchases, should be handled directly by the websites or apps that host age-restricted content, not by app stores.
Apple’s opposition is part of a more extensive debate about how best to protect minors online. Last year, the company lobbied against a similar bill in Louisiana, which was ultimately defeated. Nonetheless, Utah’s success may encourage other states to follow suit. At least eight states, including South Carolina, South Dakota, and Alaska, have proposed similar legislation.
TF Summary: What’s Next
The passage of Utah’s App Store Accountability Act signals a significant shift in how the tech industry handles age verification and online safety. By shifting responsibility to app stores, the law empowers parents to have greater control over their children’s app usage. With the law set to take effect on May 7, 2025, it will be interesting to see whether other states follow Utah’s lead and how Apple and Google adapt their policies to comply. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: age verification is becoming an important factor in the ongoing effort to make the digital world safer for children.
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