Apple is implementing age verification requirements for new Apple ID accounts in Texas, effective Thursday, June 4, 2026, in compliance with the state’s App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420). Users creating a new Apple account in Texas will now need to verify they are over 18. Verification options include providing a credit card or government-issued ID. Apple may also automatically confirm age based on existing account data, such as the length of time the account has been active and whether a credit card is already on file. For users under 18, the process routes through Apple’s Family Sharing system. A parent or guardian must provide consent for app downloads and in-app purchases. Developers are also required to deliver age-appropriate experiences and can leverage Apple’s Declared Age Range API to check user age brackets. Background on the Texas Law The move follows a recent federal appeals court decision allowing Texas’ App Store Accountability Act to take effect while ongoing litigation continues. A lower court had previously blocked the law in December, but the appeals court reversed that injunction for now. Apple had previously opposed aspects of app store-level age verification mandates, but is now implementing the checks to comply with similar laws in states including Utah and Louisiana, as well as countries like Brazil, Australia, Singapore, and the UK. Google is making parallel changes to the Play Store. This is part of a growing wave of age verification efforts across the internet, driven by concerns over minors’ access to certain content and features. While the Texas law faces continued legal challenges, a similar federal proposal is also under consideration in the U.S. Congress, which could eventually expand such requirements nationwide. MacDailyNews Note: For existing Apple users in Texas, no immediate action is required. The verification applies primarily to new account creations. Apple has not detailed public-facing changes to the App Store interface beyond these backend and signup adjustments. Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon. The post Apple rolls out age verification in Texas starting today appeared first on MacDailyNews. You're currently a free subscriber to MacDailyNews. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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