Utah becomes the first state to pass an app store age-verification bill and require parental consent for minors to download apps; the bill heads to the governor
Utah had already pursued platform-level youth safeguards through its 2023 social-media rules, including age checks and parental permission for minors. This measure extends that regulatory approach from individual services to the app-distribution layer.
The bill puts a near-term decision before Utah's governor; if signed, app-store operators would need age-verification and parental-consent processes for minor downloads in the state.
Minors and parents would encounter an approval step at download, rather than only within a particular app's own account or safety settings.
Second-order effects
App stores would become a central compliance point for apps with youth-access rules, potentially reducing the ability of individual app publishers to set their own age-assurance flow.
If other states follow Utah's approach, app stores may have to support a state-by-state age and consent framework rather than one uniform U.S. download experience; Texas's subsequent app-store law is evidence that this model can spread.
That would make app-distribution infrastructure—not just social-media services—the durable enforcement layer for youth-access regulation, while leaving open how consistently states define age checks and parental approval.
The trend: Child-safety policy is moving enforcement upstream from individual apps toward the app stores and device ecosystems that control access to them.
Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child's age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it, and more than a quarter of states have introduced bills recognizing the central role app stores play. We …
@goptodd
Todd Weiler on x
I am pleased that the majority of my colleagues in the #utleg voted to protect children from accepting sometimes predatory terms and conditions when downloading apps that may collect and sell their personal data. We shouldn't encourage children to enter into contracts. #utpol
@davisantigone
Antigone Davis on x
1/ Meta, X, and Snap agree! Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child's age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way.
@timsweeneyepic
Tim Sweeney on x
@ProgressChamber ... “Papers please” is deeply anti-American. Shame on Utah for allowing the Apple and Google app store monopolies to continue unchecked while seeking to co-opt them for government surveillance.
@rakeshsfnyc
Rakesh Agrawal on x
Do app stores respond like PornHub etc have? Just geo-block Utah. Pro tip: Apple Private Relay gets around some state restrictions.
@andymstone
Andy Stone on x
After a 64-3 House vote yesterday and a 25-1 Senate vote today, Utah moves one step closer to being the first state in the nation to pass App Store age verification legislation as the bill now heads to the governor's desk.
@progresschamber
@progresschamber on x
@GovCox If you're getting déjà vu, that's because Utah already approved a similar bill focused on social media last year, which the courts rightly blocked. The same thing is likely to happen here. Here's more from our statement: https://progresschamber.org/ ...
@davisantigone
Antigone Davis on x
2/ The app store is the best place for it, and more than a quarter of states have introduced bills recognizing the central role app stores play. We applaud Utah for putting parents in charge with its landmark legislation and urge Congress to follow suit.
@mariachong
Maria Chong on x
Parents also should be able to block all R+ ads, gambling, and content from our own phones and kids' phones. Not hard to require apps to limit ads to family-friendly content. Can't belief how much tech profits but how little money/resources are spent to protect kids from harm.
@senmikelee
Mike Lee on x
Utah leads the way! Time to make the App Store Accountability Act federal law and protect children across America!
@wblittlejohn
Brad Littlejohn on x
Massive win for children and parents across America! (For now it's just Utah, but App Store Accountability is coming soon to a state near you!)
@melissa_m818
Melissa McKay on x
The App Store Accountability Act has officially passed in Utah. WE DID IT!! 😭 #AppStoreAccountability [image]
@adamkovac
Adam Kovacevich on x
Breaking in Utah: First state app store age verification bill in the country to move to a Governor's desk. The bill has the same constitutional problems as previous age verification bills that have been enjoined - but the governor may sign it anyway. [image]
@digichildallnce
@digichildallnce on x
Thank you to @RepJimDunnigan & @gopTodd for their leadership on the App Store Accountability Act. Thanks to their work, Utah is leading the fight to hold app stores accountable and protect kids online. [image]
@progresschamber
@progresschamber on x
Today, Utah lawmakers advanced the “App Store Accountability Act” to @GovCox, which would require app store providers to verify the identity and age of all users, undermining the privacy of Utah consumers. [image]
@snap
@snap on x
Today, we joined Meta and X in recognizing Utah for becoming the first state to pass legislation requiring age verification and parental consent (at the App store level) in order for minors to access social media.
@bradwilcoxifs
Brad Wilcox on x
Why did @Apple announce they are launching new child safety measures including age-checks for APPS? Because Utah is advancing legislation to do this and more. Way to go Utah - @gopTODD! [image]