⚖️ Utah makes app stores responsible for age verification

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Utah’s New App Store Law

Utah’s new App Store Accountability Act shifts the burden of age verification from individual apps to app stores like Apple’s and Google’s, marking a major regulatory win for social media companies like Meta, X, and Snap. For tech startups, this law introduces a new compliance landscape where app distribution may become more centralized under app store policies, reducing the need for developers to implement their own age verification systems. However, startups should be aware that similar laws are being considered in at least 16 other states, meaning regulatory trends may soon impact a much wider market.

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Implications for Tech Startups

Startups developing apps for younger audiences may benefit from the streamlined verification process, as users will be required to verify their age at the app store level rather than through individual apps. This could reduce friction in onboarding while also addressing parental consent requirements more efficiently. However, app developers must still integrate Apple’s new Declared Age Range API or similar tools, ensuring their apps comply with new age-based experience requirements. While Utah’s law centralizes age verification, it does not eliminate the responsibility of developers to tailor app features based on user age.

What Startups Should Do Now

Founders should monitor how Apple and Google refine their implementation of age verification, as these changes will likely set a precedent for other jurisdictions. Startups targeting younger demographics should prepare to adapt their onboarding flows to accommodate these changes while ensuring compliance with evolving state laws. Additionally, companies should consider the broader implications of increasing government regulation in the tech sector—particularly regarding data privacy and parental control mechanisms—which may lead to more stringent requirements in the near future.

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