<ul><li>Texas has passed a new online child safety bill that requires Apple and Google to verify user ages and obtain parental approval for minors to download apps or make in-app purchases, effective from January 1, 2026.</li><li>The legislation places responsibility on tech giants like Apple and Google to verify ages, leading to conflicts with companies like Meta, Snap, and Match Group and prompting debates around digital safety.</li><li>Texas is also advancing a law to ban social media accounts for individuals under 18, with Apple CEO Tim Cook lobbying for changes. The proposed ban would cover major platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat, with an emphasis on age verification and parental rights.</li><li>If the social media ban bill is signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, Texas will be the first state to enforce such a ban for minors under 18, making it a significant regulatory development in the realm of online safety.</li></ul>

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

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