In a major push to safeguard children on the internet, Texas has passed a new law that will soon require Apple and Google to confirm users’ ages and get parental permission before minors can download apps or make purchases within them. The law, which is set to kick in on January 1, 2026, places the burden of enforcement on the tech giants, marking a dramatic shift in how digital safety is regulated at the state level.
This move is part of a growing trend across the U.S. as states scramble to tighten online protections for minors. With this law, Texas becomes the tenth state, following others like Utah, to implement such child-focused digital safety rules.
Shifting Responsibility to Tech Giants
Under the new legislation, Apple and Google will no longer be able to take a hands-off approach when it comes to age restrictions. Instead, they’ll be required to actively verify user ages and ensure that children can’t access apps without a parent’s approval. That includes all downloads and in-app purchases.
This requirement has deepened the ongoing standoff between app store operators like Apple and Google and app developers such as Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram), Snap (maker of Snapchat), and Match Group (which runs Tinder and Hinge). Developers argue that responsibility should rest with them since they operate the apps. But Apple and Google are now legally obligated to step in — at least in Texas.
Apple Pushes Back, But Texas Stands Firm
The law didn’t pass without protest. According to reports, Apple CEO Tim Cook personally contacted Governor Greg Abbott in an attempt to block or revise the bill. However, the state moved forward with strong support from lawmakers, underscoring Texas’s determination to lead the charge on digital child safety.
Tech companies have long criticized such measures, warning that age verification could erode user privacy, lead to costly compliance hurdles, and introduce new technical challenges. But for many in the Texas legislature, these concerns were outweighed by a greater sense of urgency: protecting kids from digital harms like online predators, excessive screen time, and inappropriate content.
A New Battlefront: Banning Social Media for Minors
Alongside the app store legislation, Texas is also pushing forward another highly controversial bill — one that could bar anyone under 18 from using social media.
House Bill 186, which passed the Texas House with bipartisan support, aims to ban minors from joining or maintaining accounts on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat. The bill still needs to pass the state Senate, but if it does, it could go into effect by April 2026.
The proposal would also give parents the legal right to request that their child’s account be deleted — and tech companies would have just 10 days to comply. No U.S. state has gone this far yet. Florida currently bans children under 14 from using social media, and its legislature is now weighing an increase to age 16. But Texas’s bill would set the bar even higher, creating a sweeping digital restriction for all users under 18.
Bigger Questions: Rights, Privacy, and Enforcement
These laws aren’t without controversy. Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns that banning teens from social media might violate the First Amendment, while legal experts expect a wave of constitutional challenges from tech companies. Questions also linger around how age verification would be implemented without compromising users’ personal data.
Despite the debate, supporters argue the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. “We’re not trying to take away anyone’s freedom,” said one Texas lawmaker. “We’re trying to protect kids from the darker sides of the internet — bullying, addiction, and exploitation.”
What Tech Companies Need to Do Next
Apple, Google, and other digital platforms now face a tight timeline to develop age verification systems that meet Texas’s new standards. The clock is ticking, with less than two years to adapt their platforms before the law comes into force. If the social media ban also passes, their responsibilities will expand even further — possibly requiring entirely new user vetting systems and parental controls.
This also puts pressure on app developers to coordinate with the app stores and ensure compliance on their end. It’s unclear how this will play out operationally, but the law signals a broader shift toward corporate accountability for the safety of young users online.
