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Apple Details App Store Changes to Comply With Texas Age Verification Law

As the parent of a small child, I would like to see Apple beef up their parental controls. However, the state of Texas is taking the wrong approach. I’d much rather give parents easy controls over what kids can access than the government control it.
 
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JonneyGee said:
As the parent of a small child, I would like to see Apple beef up their parental controls. However, the state of Texas is taking the wrong approach. I’d much rather give parents easy controls over what kids can access than the government control it.
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Apple's complete inability to get Screen Time to work properly with the amount of control they have over iOS doesn't give me much faith in anyone's ability to "protect the kids" on the open internet. It laughable how easy it is for kids to bypass Screen Time controls.
 
msackey said:
I thought the Republican party did not want a nanny state and don’t like big government. But actually, they have been misrepresenting themselves. It’s not that they don’t like nanny state or big government. Rather, they like it when they do it as their confines about what is and isn’t acceptable are different than other political persuations.
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Republicans are kinda socialists but to the right of political left they still worship leaders and call for more government intervention. And just like the political left they also suffer from the savior complex.
 
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msackey said:
I thought the Republican party did not want a nanny state and don’t like big government. But actually, they have been misrepresenting themselves. It’s not that they don’t like nanny state or big government. Rather, they like it when they do it as their confines about what is and isn’t acceptable are different than other political persuations.
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But it’s for the kids!
 
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JonneyGee said:
As the parent of a small child, I would like to see Apple beef up their parental controls. However, the state of Texas is taking the wrong approach. I’d much rather give parents easy controls over what kids can access than the government control it.
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They know what they’re doing and it’s spreading across the globe it has a purpose of collecting users’ information and behavior. It’s mass surveillance disguised as protecting the children.
 
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Hajj.david said:
Yes it is. You don't think they keep a copy of it? Best Buy does for returns.
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Oh it can be, for sure

The example given (I think it was ID checks at bars?) I'm not sure they are doing that or not.

Certainly could be though, you're right!

I hate all of it.


Screenshot 2025-10-08 at 12.59.49.png
 
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JonneyGee said:
As the parent of a small child, I would like to see Apple beef up their parental controls. However, the state of Texas is taking the wrong approach. I’d much rather give parents easy controls over what kids can access than the government control it.
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The government is just telling apple that they need to provide the tools to you. Its exactly what you are asking for. Texas is not saying it needs a copy of IDs or anything it is saying Apple needs to verify or have the parents consent to minors downloading inappropriate apps.
MNGR said:
But those are in person, right. A huge difference. And in a bar, as far as I know, they don't retain the age information...
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Why is that a difference? Vice is vice wether its done in person or at home. Even if I order cigars to be delivered to my house I have to verify my ID. Also most bars now do scan IDs, same with the TSA etc.
 
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deathcab said:
These laws feel like a solution in search of a problem. Providing an opt-in solution would be fine, but mandating how parents parent just feels like nanny behavior.

As long as folks have to live with ridiculous laws like these, I at least hope there is a blanket / universal "approval" option. The last thing I want is to have to approve a download or purchase anytime my 17 year old wants to download a new weather app or spend $0.99 of his own money on an in-app purchase.
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Agreed. Many 16 and 17yo's are more intelligent and mature than many adults these days.
 
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deathcab said:
These laws feel like a solution in search of a problem. Providing an opt-in solution would be fine, but mandating how parents parent just feels like nanny behavior.

As long as folks have to live with ridiculous laws like these, I at least hope there is a blanket / universal "approval" option. The last thing I want is to have to approve a download or purchase anytime my 17 year old wants to download a new weather app or spend $0.99 of his own money on an in-app purchase.
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Why would a weather app be rated 17+? is a half naked women dancing to tell you the weather? Also federally someone under 18 cannot engage in contracts so spending money via the app store is already a problem for a minor.

coolfactor said:
Agreed. Many 16 and 17yo's are more intelligent and mature than many adults these days.
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Oh boy, please give them your house and businesses then since they are so intelligent and mature
 
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Hajj.david said:
If I need my ID to buy mature games, or to buy cigars, why not for apps, porn, or to vote.
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I guess it just depends how much government control one is OK with?

Why stop there?
How about rules about what you say, about whom and where you say it!

Dial up some digital tracking (that's already happening), add in some rules, and soon it will be illegal to even "think" about the wrong things.
 
turbineseaplane said:
I guess it just depends how much government control one is OK with?

Why stop there?
How about rules about what you say, about whom and where you say it!

Dial up some digital tracking (that's already happening), add in some rules, and soon it will be illegal to even "think" about the wrong things.
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I don't engage in ridiculous hypotheticals, I gave you a real world and grounded example try to stay there.

Right now by law if I go to a store and want to buy a mature game I have to prove I am an adult or have an adult consent for me to get it. Why is the appstore exempt?

Why do I need to show ID to go to a rated R movie but I can rent a rated R movie on Apple TV with no check. Why?

Either remove all ID checks or enforce them universally (what this law does).

I am an adult yet I have to show ID every time I order cigars online or when I go to a lounge. Thats life.
 
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Hajj.david said:
Yes it is. You don't think they keep a copy of it? Best Buy does for returns.
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Yup. I am always wary of vendors who need us to upload to enter personal information even if they say they aren’t keeping the data. Oh, really? That’s why I don’t like to have my credit card details stores with websites, even though I also do not fully know whether checking “do not save information” actually means they did not save.

It’s one reason why I like using Apple Pay online when it is possible. No sensitive data stored and even if they store the data, it changes or expires soon.
 
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Hajj.david said:
I don't engage in ridiculous hypotheticals, I gave you a real world and grounded example try to stay there.

Right now by law if I go to a store and want to buy a mature game I have to prove I am an adult or have an adult consent for me to get it. Why is the appstore exempt?

Why do I need to show ID to go to a rated R movie but I can rent a rated R movie on Apple TV with no check. Why?

Either remove all ID checks or enforce them universally (what this law does).

I am an adult yet I have to show ID every time I order cigars online or when I go to a lounge. Thats life.
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When you go into a store to buy a game or purchase alcohol or smokes, they look at your license, they do not store it in an online database.
 
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