Utah has passed a new law that makes Apple and Google responsible for checking the age of app users and getting parental permission for kids. As you can imagine, Meta, X, and Snap are happy about this.
This legislation shifts the age verification burden from app developers to app stores, a point of contention between the tech giants.
App makers and app stores have argued about who should check ages. App makers say stores should, since they sell the apps. App stores say app makers should, since they make the apps. Utah is the first state to make this law.
Before the law, Apple made a tool for app makers to get age ranges from parents. This helps apps change what kids see but doesn’t share their exact age.
Social media companies like Meta, X, and Snap like the law. They say it helps parents control what apps their kids download. They want other states to do the same.
Right now, 16 states, including California and Texas, are looking at similar laws.
