Apple - Policy Change
Executive Summary
Apple has begun enforcing age verification requirements for App Store users in Texas, following the implementation of state law SB 2420. New Apple accounts created in Texas must verify users' ages, and parents or guardians must provide consent for minors to download apps, install updates, or make in-app purchases. The law, signed last May but delayed by legal challenges from its original January 1 effective date, is now taking effect.
What Happened
Apple began enforcing age verification requirements for App Store users in Texas on June 4, 2026, in compliance with state law SB 2420. New Apple accounts created in Texas must verify users' ages, and parents or guardians must provide consent before minors can download apps, install app updates, or make in-app purchases. The law was signed in May 2025 but its original January 1, 2026 effective date was delayed by legal challenges.
Who Is Affected
All new Apple account holders in Texas are required to verify their age, with minors specifically needing parental or guardian consent for app-related activities. Existing account holders' obligations under the law are not specified in available sources. App developers distributing in Texas must now support parental consent management and allow guardians to revoke access permissions at any time.
Why It Matters
This represents a significant shift in how major technology platforms handle minors' digital access at the state level, establishing precedent for geographically-specific age verification enforcement within a single country's market. The implementation follows a broader trend of US states passing age verification laws over the past year, and Apple has already begun adopting similar measures in other jurisdictions like the UK. The requirement fundamentally changes how families in Texas interact with the App Store ecosystem and may influence other states' regulatory approaches.
What You Should Do
If you are creating a new Apple account in Texas, prepare to provide age verification information during account setup. Parents and guardians of minors should familiarize themselves with the consent process for app downloads, updates, and in-app purchases, and understand they can revoke permissions at any time. Users with existing accounts should monitor for any communications from Apple about whether age verification requirements will apply to previously created accounts.
Summary generated from verified sources and reviewed before publication. How we summarize.