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Texas forces Google and Apple to verify ages in app stores. Teen social media ban could be next.


Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the online child safety bill into law.

Texas has signed into law its online child safety bill, a sweeping measure that mandates Apple and Google must verify user ages and secure parental approval before minors can download apps or make in-app purchases. Apple and Google have clashed with app makers such as Meta, Snap, and Match Group, the parent company of Tinder and Hinge, as state-level legislation on digital safety continues to multiply. Texas joins nine other states, including Utah, that have passed child-focused online safety laws, according to the Age Verification Providers Association.

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