Texas Takes Step Toward Tighter Teen Tech Restrictions

Texas is on the verge of passing legislation that would mandate age verification and parental consent for minors using app stores. Senate Bill 2420, which is poised to become law, would require parental approval for users under the age of 18 to download apps or make in-app purchases, according to a report by Reuters.

The bill has already passed both the Texas Senate and House with supermajority support and is now awaiting the signature of Governor Greg Abbott.

Tech giants Apple and Google have opposed the bill, arguing that the requirement for all apps to share age-related data would compromise user privacy. In contrast, Meta has expressed that the responsibility for such measures should rest with the app stores themselves.

According to the Digital Childhood Alliance, legislation like this is essential for protecting children, asserting that "self-regulation by technology companies has failed."