Utah Becomes First State to Pass Legislation Requiring Age Verification for App Downloads
On Wednesday, Utah became the first state to pass a bill requiring app stores to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for minors to download apps. This legislation, if signed by Governor Spencer Cox, has sparked a debate between tech giants Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and Apple and Google over who should be responsible for age verification.
Meta, X and Snap Inc. issued a joint statement supporting the bill, stating that parents want a one-stop shop for verifying their child’s age. However, Apple and Google argue that app developers are better equipped to handle age verification.
The bill would require app stores to request age information during account creation and link minors’ accounts to their parents’ accounts. Parents would need to approve any app downloads that involve in-app purchases or terms and conditions.
Supporters of the bill argue that inaccurate age ratings on apps and faulty parental controls contribute to online harm. If signed into law, this bill would take effect on May 7. Other states are considering similar legislation to hold app stores accountable for verifying ages and obtaining parental permissions.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
