How this new law for Google and Apple may make Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg ‘happy’

Google and Apple will be required to implement age verification for app downloads in the US state of Utah, following the enactment of a new law, set to take effect in May. The legislation essentially shifts the responsibility for verifying children’s ages from app publishers to app store operators like Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. The move is likely to offer some relief to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has previously argued that app store providers should handle parental consent systems for children’s use of social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

According to a report by news agency AFP, the law directly impacts Google and Apple’s app distribution practices, mandating that they ensure users are at least 13 years old before accessing social networking apps.