Social Media and Economy Update: Age Verification Mandate for App Purchases in Texas Begins January 1; Major Tech Companies in Support, Except Apple and Google
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a bill into law, marking a significant move towards regulating smartphone use by children and teenagers. The new legislation, effective from January 1, requires app stores operated by Apple and Google to verify the age of their users and obtain parental consent for those under 18 before they can download apps or make in-app purchases.
Utah was the first US state to pass a similar law this year, and federal lawmakers have also introduced a bill. Another Texas bill, currently awaiting a Senate vote, seeks to restrict social media apps for users below the age of 18.
A survey conducted by Pew Research in 2023 revealed that 81% of Americans support requiring parental consent for children to create social media accounts, while 71% support age verification before using such platforms. The impact of social media on children's mental health has emerged as a global concern, prompting numerous lawsuits against Meta Platforms and advisories from the US Surgeon General. Australia has even banned social media for children under 16, with other countries considering new regulations.
The implementation of age restrictions has sparked a dispute between Meta, Instagram, and Facebook's owner, and Apple and Google, who control the two most dominant US app stores. Meta, Snap, and X have praised the Texas bill, stating that parents desire a central platform to verify their child's age and grant app download permissions in a privacy-preserving manner.
However, Kathleen Farley, vice president of litigation for the Chamber of Progress, a group backed by Apple and Alphabet, believes the Texas law could face legal challenges on First Amendment grounds. She argues that it could burden adult speech in an attempt to regulate children's speech.
Child safety groups have long advocated for app store age verification, stating that it is the only way to give parents effective control over their children's use of technology. "Self-regulation in the digital marketplace has failed, where app stores have prioritized profit over the safety and rights of children and families," says Casey Stefanski, executive director for the Digital Childhood Alliance.
Apple and Google have argued that the Texas bill imposes blanket requirements to collect and store sensitive age data for all users, even those using non-controversial apps. Apple has proposed a system that requires parental consent without needing a specific birth date, focusing on privacy concerns. Google has not outlined an alternative but shares Apple's concerns about the blanket requirement for age verification.
Meta suggests that age verification should occur at the app store level rather than within individual apps, to simplify the process for parents. Google's Kareem Ghanem emphasizes the need for legislation while holding tech companies accountable, especially those causing harm to young users on their platforms.
- The new legislation in Texas, concerning smartphone usage by children and teenagers, aligns with a similar law passed in Utah earlier this year and a proposed federal bill.
- A survey by Pew Research in 2023 shows that most Americans support parental consent and age verification for children's social media use, with 81% endorsing the former and 71% the latter.
- The global concern over social media's impact on children's mental health has led to numerous lawsuits against Meta Platforms and advisories from the US Surgeon General.
- The implementation of age restrictions has led to a conflict between tech giants Meta, Apple, and Google, with the latter two controlling the dominant US app stores.
- Child safety groups argue that app store age verification is essential to give parents control over their children's technology use, with Casey Stefanski, executive director for the Digital Childhood Alliance, stating that self-regulation has failed in the digital marketplace.
- Google's Kareem Ghanem highlights the need for legislation while holding tech companies accountable, particularly those causing harm to young users on their platforms, suggesting the importance of policy-and-legislation in addressing these issues in the realm of personal-growth, education-and-self-development, social-media, and entertainment.
