A Texas federal judge today blocked an App Store age verification law that was set to go into effect on January 1, 2026, which means Apple may not have to support the changes after all. The Texas App Store Accountability Act (SB2420) requires Apple and other app marketplaces to confirm user age when a person creates an Apple Account. Apple Accounts for users under 18 would need to join a Family Sharing group, with new controls available for parents and restrictions for minors.
In other words, you’re okay with a new age of darkness because at least 13 year olds have access to gacha games.
I would prefer for parents and myself included to be able to pick and choose what’s best for their own children. (Using current technology, such as local parental controls on home routers)
I do not support “digital IDs” and by extension governments with corporations collecting and or processing this data in anyway, or tracking me or my children in anyway.
What I would support is local governments creating a system/group to “curate the internet” similar to how librarians curate books. Classify websites into listed based on certain criteria, and then provide this list for parents to whitelists on a home router. No need to check IDs or scan faces and the end goal of “protecting the children” would be achieved.
Sure, then why regulate cigarettes and drugs? Just let braindead parents regulate their children’s access. No more invasive ID laws.
Cigarettes harm third parties via second hand smoke. Gacha games don’t brain rot the person sitting next to you.