Overview

• Texas became the second state, after Utah, to require app marketplaces to verify user ages and secure parental consent for minors.
• The App Store Accountability Act compels Apple and Google to confirm ages and obtain parental consent before any user under 18 can download apps or make in-app purchases.
• Apple and Google opposed the law, arguing that enforcing it will force them to collect and store sensitive personal data from every app store user.
• The law takes effect January 1, 2026, giving app store operators seven months to implement the new systems.
• A separate proposal to ban social media accounts for minors under 18 stalled without a Senate vote before the legislative deadline.