New Delhi: Apple will require all the latest Apple Account holder which was in the Texas to confirm the whether they are over the 18, marking the significant changes in the way the tech giant manages underage users, those who are under 18 will automatically placed in the Family Sharing groups, giving parents and guardians authority to approve every application download, purchase and in-applications transactions. The move comes in response to the Texas Application Store Accountability Act, which Apple criticised for compelling users to share sensitive, personally identifiable information even for simple tasks such as checking the weather or sports scores.
To help the developers distribute applications in Texas, they must adjust their software to meet the law’s requirements. Similar rules are expected in Utah and Louisiana in 2026, potentially extending the impact beyond Texas. Apple’s efforts to block the legislation were unsuccessful; the CEO, Tim Cook, reportedly called the Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, in an attempt to prevent the bill, but it was signed into law in May 2025.
Apple has warned that state-by-state regulations could undermine user privacy nationwide. Earlier in 2025, Apple introduced strengthened child safety features, including improved age ratings and more robust parental controls. The company maintains that these voluntary measures are preferable to the mandatory age checks now required under the Texas law, which affect all users regardless of their application choice.
