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

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. The law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.

At the core of this conflict is a broader battle over who bears responsibility for age verification. 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.

It's a major win for the Texas Legislature, which is also advancing a more controversial measure: a statewide ban on social media accounts for anyone under 18. For Apple and Google, it’s a significant regulatory setback. Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly contacted Governor Greg Abbott directly, urging changes to the bill or a veto.

House Bill 186, Texas’s proposed social media ban, cleared the House last week with bipartisan backing. It is expected to pass the state Senate. If enacted, the law would bar minors from creating accounts on all major social media platforms, including TikTok, X, Facebook, and Snapchat. Age verification would be mandatory, and platforms would need to comply by April 2026.

Parents would also have the right to request the deletion of their child’s account. Social media companies would be required to process those requests within 10 days.

If Abbott signs the bill, Texas would become the first state to enforce a social media ban for minors under 18. Florida currently has a similar law, but its age cutoff is 14, and legislators are now considering raising it to 16.