Recently, at least nine states in the United States are considering legislation that would require app stores such as Apple and Google to assume age verification responsibilities when allowing users to download apps with minimum age restrictions. Currently, this legal responsibility is mainly borne by app developers.
The issue is mainly focused on social media apps, which often set the minimum age of use at 13. However, social media apps have been accused of failing to effectively ensure that users meet their claimed age requirements and have even been accused of inducing teenagers to become addicted. As more legislatures attempt to enforce legally binding age restrictions or require minors to obtain parental permission when using social media, this issue has become the latest focus of controversy.
Multiple States Push App Stores to Assume Age Verification Responsibilities
Although Apple successfully lobbied against a bill in Louisiana that would have placed age verification responsibilities on app stores, at least nine states, including Utah, South Carolina, South Dakota, Alaska, Kentucky, Alabama, New Mexico, West Virginia and Hawaii, are currently proposing similar bills. These bills require app store operators to verify the user’s age and obtain parental consent before allowing minors to download apps. In addition, more than 60 child safety advocates are forming a new coalition to promote the passage of app store age verification bills across the country.
Reasons to Support App Stores Taking on Verification Responsibilities
As early as 2023, there was a view that it was reasonable to shift the responsibility of age verification to app stores. Currently, app developers need to collect date of birth to verify age when users register, but this process is considered to have privacy risks. In contrast, having a few companies such as Apple and Google perform age verification may reduce privacy risks. After all, when asked who is more trustworthy to protect sensitive personal information, Apple is clearly more advantageous than Meta.
In addition, from a practical perspective, app stores usually already save users’ credit card information for adult identity verification. Apple’s “Family Sharing” feature can also provide some signals that users are children. For example, Apple introduced a new feature in iOS 18.4: when setting up a new iPhone, users need to select the age range of the device user, which is divided into “12 years old and under”, “13 to 17 years old” and “18 years old and over”. Apple said that this information will help the iPhone set up parental controls and safety features.
Problems Caused by the App Store’s Responsibility for Age Verification
This change also raises a series of problems. First, it may undermine fair competition. As major players in the market, Apple and Google may cause unfair treatment to other small companies and developers if they need to bear additional age verification responsibilities. After all, these small companies and developers may not have enough resources or capabilities to perform such verification tasks. Second, this change may affect the user experience. The main function of the App Store is to provide a variety of applications to meet the different needs of users. If the App Store needs to bear the responsibility of age verification, then users may have to wait longer to download and install applications, which will undoubtedly affect the user experience.
In addition, we cannot ignore the issue of children’s privacy and safety. Handing the responsibility of age verification to the App Store may make it easier for children to access applications that are inappropriate or not suitable for their age, which will undoubtedly increase the risk of children’s privacy and safety. Therefore, while assuming the responsibility of age verification, app stores must take effective measures to protect children’s privacy and safety.
In general, the legislation in many states in the United States to force app stores to undertake age verification is a complex social issue that needs to be viewed with a neutral attitude, balancing various interests, protecting user privacy and safety, promoting fair competition, and ensuring the availability and security of applications.
