Apple Activates App Store Age Verification in Texas
Apple is introducing mandatory age verification for new App Store accounts in Texas starting June 4th following a federal appeals court ruling. The change reflects growing state and potential federal pressure on platforms to restrict underage access while lawsuits over constitutionality continue.
Texas residents must verify their age when creating new Apple accounts. People in Texas who are creating a new Apple account will need to verify they’re over 18 using a credit card or government ID. Apple may also automatically verify users’ age using the age of their account and whether they have a credit card on file.
Despite Apple’s attempts to push back on app store-level age verification, the company has announced plans to implement age checks to comply with laws in places like Utah, Louisiana, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, and the UK.
Users under 18 must join a Family Sharing group. A parent or guardian will need to provide consent for app downloads and in-app purchases. This setup applies specifically to those who have not yet verified as over 18.
Developers face new rules for underage users. Developers must ensure they’re providing age-appropriate experiences for users under 18. They can use Apple’s Declared Age Range API to check a user’s age range.
Even if this law gets struck down in Texas, a federal version with the same name is still making its way through Congress.
The Texas law cleared a recent court hurdle. Last December, a judge blocked the App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420) from taking effect. An appeals court has now reversed this decision at least while the court figures out whether the law is constitutional.
Federal legislation could expand the requirements nationwide. Even if this law gets struck down in Texas, a federal version with the same name is still making its way through Congress. It could impose age verification at the app store nationwide.
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