In a groundbreaking moment for America, a conservative state passed the nation’s first law forcing tech giants Apple and Google to verify user ages before allowing access to apps.
This groundbreaking legislation, signed by Governor Spencer Cox (R-UT), prioritizes parental rights over Big Tech profits and requires Silicon Valley companies to take responsibility for protecting children from harmful content.
The App Store Accountability Act shifts age verification responsibility from individual apps to the major app stores operated by Apple and Google.
Under the new law, tech corporations must verify users’ ages before allowing downloads and obtain parental permission for users under 18—common-sense protection for families trying to navigate today’s dangerous digital landscape.
This bill represents a significant victory for conservative families concerned about protecting children from inappropriate content.
While Congress continues to hold hearings without taking action, Utah is leading the way with practical solutions that empower parents rather than government bureaucracies to make decisions about their children’s online activities.
State Senator Todd Weiler (R-UT), who championed the bill, pointed out the dishonesty of social media companies that market themselves as appropriate for children despite the harmful content they host.
“For the past decade or longer, Instagram has rated itself as friendly for 12 year olds. It’s not,” Weiler stated, exposing the hypocrisy of these platforms.
The legislation will take effect on May 7, though legal challenges are expected from the same groups that consistently prioritize corporate profits over child safety.
Meanwhile, tech industry critics claim the law infringes on privacy rights but fail to explain why verifying age to protect children is somehow more invasive than the extensive data harvesting they already conduct for advertising purposes.
Interestingly, major social media companies, including Meta (Facebook’s parent company), Snapchat, and X all support the law.
These platforms see it as a way to create a unified system that gives parents greater control while removing the burden of verification from individual apps.
Moreover, the law directly challenges Big Tech gatekeepers who have resisted taking responsibility for protecting children.
Apple has argued that individual apps should handle age verification, clearly trying to avoid accountability while maintaining control of its lucrative app ecosystem.
Google similarly expressed concerns about “privacy risks” – a convenient excuse when profits are threatened.
Utah’s initiative comes after a congressional hearing where social media CEOs were grilled about online child safety but faced no real consequences.
The federal Kids Online Safety Act failed to advance in Congress, demonstrating once again that states must take the lead when Washington fails to act.
Other conservative states, including South Carolina and California, are considering similar legislation, potentially creating a domino effect that would force national change.
By requiring app stores to verify ages using credit cards and linking children’s accounts to parent accounts, Utah has created a practical solution that respects parental authority while protecting vulnerable children from online predators and harmful content.
