SAN FRANCISCO, California: Texas is set to become the first major U.S. state to require Apple and Google to verify the age of users on their app stores—a move that could reshape how minors access apps and make purchases on smartphones.

Senate Bill 2420, which received broad bipartisan support in the state legislature, is now awaiting Governor Greg Abbott’s signature. If enacted, the law would require app store operators to verify the user’s age and, if under 18, obtain parental consent before allowing downloads or in-app purchases.

While Utah passed a similar law earlier this year, Texas—the second-most-populous U.S. state—would become the highest-profile battleground in an escalating national debate over digital safety for children and teens.

The Texas bill coincides with a broader push across the U.S. and globally to limit tech exposure for minors. One additional Texas bill still under debate would outright bar social media apps for users under 18. At the federal level, similar age verification and consent legislation has been introduced.

Polling shows strong support for such measures. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that 81 percent of Americans support requiring parental consent for children to create social media accounts, while 71 percent support age verification for social platforms.

Concerns over youth mental health continue to drive urgency. Dozens of U.S. states have sued Meta Platforms, and the U.S. Surgeon General has called for stronger protections. Other countries, including Australia and Norway, are also advancing regulations.

The method of enforcement, however, remains contentious. During a Senate hearing last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg argued that app stores—not individual apps—should handle verification: “The easier place to do this is in the app stores themselves.”

App store operators Apple and Google oppose the Texas bill in its current form. Apple warned that it would force the collection of sensitive data even for basic apps like weather or sports scores. Google echoed those concerns but acknowledged the role of thoughtful regulation.

“We see a role for legislation here,” said Kareem Ghanem, senior director at Google. “It just has to be done in the right way… and hold the feet of Zuckerberg and the social media companies to the fire.”

Child advocacy groups backed the bill, calling current industry self-regulation ineffective.

“The problem is that self-regulation in the digital marketplace has failed,” said Casey Stefanski, executive director of the Digital Childhood Alliance. “App stores have prioritized profit over the safety and rights of children.”