As is not unusual among folks of a certain age, it's hard not to wonder about the effects of unfettered internet access on my impressionable younger self. Ah well, back to doomscrolling and staring into the vast content pit it is. Wait, what was I doing? Oh, yes, the news!
Earlier this week Texas governor Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that will require both Google and Apple's app stores to verify the age of its users from January 1 (via Reuters). Once this law comes into effect in 2026, folks under the age of 18 throughout the state will have to get parental consent to download apps or make in-app purchases. Texas also has another bill awaiting a Senate vote that aims more specifically to restrict children's access to social media apps, too.
