Texas aims to ban anyone under 18 from social media. Starting in 2026, Apple and Google apps will require age verification

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Texas recently enacted an online safety law that will be implemented on January 1, 2026. This legislation mandates app stores such as Apple’s and Google’s to verify users’ ages and acquire parental consent before allowing individuals under the age of 18 to download apps or make in-app purchases.

Texas joins growing trend to restrict kids’ online access and purchases

The proposal for Texas, House Bill 186, aimed at barring minors from social media, received approval from the House with backing from both parties. It is expected to pass through the Senate as well. If enacted, this bill would prevent individuals under the age of 18 from creating accounts on major platforms like TikTok, X, Facebook, or Snapchat. The platforms would then have until April 2026 to confirm users’ ages and comply with the new regulations.

The proposed legislation, should Governor Greg Abbott approve it, would make Texas the pioneer state by enforcing a ban on social media for minors. Currently, Florida has a similar law but applies only to children below 14; they are considering extending this age limit to 16.

Large technology firms express dissatisfaction towards the Texas Age Verification Law. Apple’s leader, Tim Cook, has communicated with Governor Abbott in an attempt to halt or modify the legislation. He contends that age verifications would necessitate gathering a significant amount of sensitive personal data from all users, potentially compromising privacy. Similarly, Google has voiced concerns, suggesting that the law might unintentionally increase the risk of data breaches without effectively enhancing online safety for children.

Nevertheless, the legislation received substantial support within the legislative body and was approved. Interestingly, Meta (previously known as Facebook) supports this law, placing them in conflict with Apple and Google over this issue.

1) One aspect of the Texas law is a larger trend of states enforcing stricter regulations on children’s online activities, primarily due to increasing worries about the influence of social media and various apps on young people’s mental wellbeing. This year, the developers of Genshin Impact even agreed to pay a $20 million fine and set restrictions to prevent minors in the U.S. from making in-game purchases.

It’s worth noting that due to precedents in other jurisdictions, this law could potentially encounter legal disputes, as analogous regulations have been contested in courts before.

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2025-05-29 13:02