Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill last week that will require mobile phone app stores to verify the ages of users, despite a phone call from the CEO of one of the world’s largest companies urging the governor to veto the legislation.
While the proposal has support from some industry giants, such as social media companies Meta and X, iPhone manufacturer Apple has pushed back against it. The company’s chief executive Tim Cook personally called Abbott to urge him to veto the bill, the Wall Street Journal reported. Abbott signed anyway.
The signing comes as the Legislature considers additional internet age-gating measures, including a proposal to bar minors from creating social media accounts.
Texas has already passed a similar bill targeting adult websites, resulting in dozens of sites — including major platforms like Pornhub — being blocked in the state since early last year. The law imposed age verification mandates similar to those proposed in the newly passed legislation, and many sites complied. However, Pornhub and other websites owned by its parent company, Aylo, chose to block access to Texans instead.
At the time, the Free Speech Coalition argued that the law violated free speech protections and was overly broad, restricting access not just for minors but also for adults. The group also warned that age-verification systems could become prime targets for hackers, potentially exposing sensitive personal data such as Social Security numbers, addresses, and birthdates.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton in January, but no changes have occurred.
What is the age verification bill in Texas?
The new legislation, known as the App Store Accountability Act, will require operators of mobile phone app marketplaces, such as Apple and Google, to limit access to app downloads for minors without parental consent.
Tech companies will be required to use an industry-standard method to verify users’ ages, which supporters say will protect kids from harmful content online. Users will also be unable to make in-app purchases without parental consent, the Austin American-Statesman reported last week.
Supporters commend the bill for aiming to curb online harms and hold tech platforms accountable, especially when it comes to apps frequently used by minors, such as Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and Discord. They point to a rise in online bullying, exposure to explicit content and exploitative advertising as reasons for the law.
Critics argue, however, that the law threatens First Amendment rights and could set a dangerous precedent for regulating online speech. They warn that requiring age verification — even for apps that host protected forms of expression like art, political discourse or identity-based content — could discourage access to lawful content, especially for older teens. Digital rights groups also raise concerns that the personal data required for age checks could be misused or breached, and that forcing users to hand over IDs or other sensitive information could have a chilling effect on free expression.
When does the age verification bill take effect?
Senate Bill 2420, which was drafted by Republican Sen. Angela Paxton of McKinney, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
What apps will require verification?
All apps available through major app stores — such as Apple’s App Store and Google Play — will require age verification for users in Texas. This ranges from social media platforms and games to utility apps, such as weather or sports score applications, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Will apps that are already downloaded require age verification?
According to the text, if a developer makes a “significant change” to an app — such as altering how personal data is collected, adding new ads or in-app purchases, changing the app’s age rating, or updating its functionality or user experience — they must notify the app store, which will likely trigger new age verification requirements, even if the app was downloaded before the law took effect.
In short, apps already on a user’s device may still prompt age verification if they are updated in a way that falls under the law’s definition of a significant change.
However, the legislation does not explicitly clarify whether age verification will be required retroactively for apps downloaded prior to the law’s effective date.
Do all apps require updates?
Not all apps require updates immediately, as users can choose to disable automatic updates and update apps manually at their own pace. However, most apps eventually require updates to fix bugs, add new features or comply with new policies — meaning that even if an app is already downloaded, users will likely need to update it over time.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas passes bill to require Apple, Google app store users to verify age for new downloads
Reporting by Brandi D. Addison and Alex Driggars, Austin American-Statesman / Austin American-Statesman
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
