Apple Locks App Store for Texas Teens behind Family Sharing
Apple announced on Wednesday that it will introduce new requirements for apps available in Texas in response to the state’s new age verification law, SB2420. The rules take effect on January 1, 2026, and will impact both users and developers.
Once the law goes into effect, anyone setting up a new Apple Account in Texas must confirm if they are 18 or older. Minors will be required to join a Family Sharing group, giving parents or guardians the power to approve downloads and in-app purchases. This means no minor can independently download or buy apps on the App Store without oversight.
Apple says this move complies with the law but also raises privacy concerns. “While we share the goal of strengthening kids’ online safety, we are concerned that SB2420 impacts the privacy of users by requiring the collection of sensitive, personally identifiable information to download any app,” the company said in its statement.
Developers will also face new obligations. Apple is rolling out tools to help apps meet legal requirements without directly collecting personal information. The Declared Age Range API, already available, will soon provide the required age categories for new account users in Texas. New APIs launching later this year will let developers request parental consent again if a “significant change” is made to their app.
Under SB2420, developers must:
- Assign age ratings to apps and in-app purchases
- Notify app stores of significant changes, like new data collection or monetization features
- Verify a user’s age category
- Confirm parental consent for minors
Failure to comply may result in enforcement under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which allows both state and private lawsuits with fines reaching up to $10,000 per violation.
Apple confirmed these changes apply only to users based in Texas for now. But similar laws are set to take effect in Utah on May 7, 2026, and Louisiana on July 1, 2026. Google has also announced upcoming changes for its Play Store to comply with the same laws. Both companies have opposed the legislation, arguing it shifts responsibilities away from social platforms to app stores.
These new rules will reshape how app accounts work for minors. They also increase the compliance burden for developers, especially smaller ones, who must adopt age verification tools or face legal risks.
Privacy groups are already debating whether this model protects children or opens the gateway for companies to collect more data. With Utah and Louisiana following closely, the Texas law could mark the beginning of a broader national shift toward stricter age verification laws.
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