Utah has enacted a new law that makes app stores—not individual apps—responsible for verifying users’ ages and obtaining parental consent for minors. The App Store Accountability Act, recently signed by Governor Spencer Cox, is the first of its kind in the United States and has received widespread support from social media giants Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and Snap.

The Battle Over Age Verification

For years, tech companies have debated who should bear the responsibility for verifying users’ ages. Platforms like Meta and Snap argue that app stores should take the lead, as they serve as the gateway for app downloads. Meanwhile, Apple and Google have maintained that age verification should be handled by app developers, as they control the user experience within their own platforms.

Utah’s new law settles the debate—at least within its borders—by mandating that app stores conduct age verification before allowing users to download apps. This means parents will have a single point of control to manage their children’s app access, reducing the need to repeatedly enter personal information across multiple platforms.

Apple’s Preemptive Response

Before the law was passed, Apple announced new child safety measures, including a Declared Age Range API. This tool allows developers to request a user’s age range but does not disclose an exact birthdate. However, Apple’s system still places the burden of age verification on individual app developers, rather than handling it at the app store level. Utah’s law forces Apple and Google to go a step further.

Tech Giants Applaud Utah’s Move

Social media companies that have long pushed for app stores to take on age verification responsibilities have welcomed the new law. In a joint statement, Meta, X, and Snap praised Utah’s leadership, urging other states to adopt similar legislation:

“We applaud Governor Cox and the State of Utah for being the first in the nation to empower parents and users with greater control over teen app downloads. Parents want a one-stop-shop to oversee and approve the many apps their teens want to download, and Utah has led the way in centralizing it within a device’s app store. This approach spares users from repeatedly submitting personal information to countless individual apps and online services.”

A Growing Trend

Utah may be the first state to enact this type of law, but it won’t be the last. At least 16 states, including California and Texas, are considering similar legislation aimed at protecting minors online. Lawmakers argue that centralizing age verification within app stores is more effective than requiring individual apps to enforce their own policies, which often leads to inconsistent or ineffective protections.

As other states watch Utah’s implementation, it’s likely that similar laws will gain traction nationwide. For now, the spotlight is on Apple and Google, which must now develop systems to comply with Utah’s mandate while navigating the complex balance between privacy, security, and regulatory compliance.

Source: TechCrunch