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Mark Zuckerberg may have found an unexpected ally in his battle to offload age verification duties: the Utah state legislature. Last week, Utah passed a groundbreaking bill shifting the responsibility of verifying users' ages to app stores rather than social media platforms. If signed into law by Governor Spencer Cox, the bill could reshape digital gatekeeping, with at least eight other states considering similar legislation.
For years, Meta and other social media giants have faced mounting scrutiny over their role in exposing minors to harmful content. During a congressional hearing last year, Zuckerberg argued that platforms like Facebook and Instagram shouldn't be responsible for verifying users' ages. Instead, he claimed that app stores—already the digital gatekeepers for millions of apps—were better positioned to handle the process.
Utah lawmakers agreed. Their bill, dubbed the App Store Accountability Act, mandates that app stores verify users' ages, classify them into age categories, and obtain parental consent before minors can download apps. This would, in theory, simplify the process for parents while giving tech giants like Meta a much-needed reprieve from regulatory pressure.
However, Apple and Google are not celebrating. Both companies have fiercely opposed the bill, raising privacy and First Amendment concerns. Apple, which prides itself on user privacy, argues that universal age verification would require all users—not just minors—to submit sensitive personal data, potentially exposing them to security risks. Meanwhile, Google accused Meta of pushing the legislation as a way to avoid responsibility for keeping children safe online.
Critics also highlight practical issues. How would app stores handle shared devices? What about minors with complex family situations where parental consent isn't feasible? And how would the law be enforced for users traveling out of state or using VPNs?
The biggest concern, however, is the potential for increased data collection. Even though the bill aims to preserve privacy, it would still require users to submit some form of identification—potentially including government-issued IDs or facial recognition scans. And once app developers receive confirmation that children under 13 are using their platforms, they could find themselves in violation of federal child privacy laws if they haven't been compliant all along.
Despite the pushback, some see Utah's move as an inevitable step toward stricter online protections for minors. While the law is far from perfect, its supporters argue that it's better than doing nothing. Governor Cox, for his part, has called the legislation a "more streamlined and privacy-conscious solution for families," but has yet to confirm whether he'll sign it.
Regardless of its fate in Utah, the bill signals a major shift in how lawmakers view online child protection. And if other states follow suit, the future of social media regulation may rest in the hands of app stores—not the platforms themselves.
