As kids’ online safety remains a priority for policymakers and parents alike, lawmakers have introduced a number of legislative proposals that would change standards for how much digital platforms need to know about the age of users.

It feels like an eternity ago, but it has only been less than a year since Australia made global headlines by introducing the world's first nationwide under-16s social media ban. Even longer, perhaps, since mandatory age verification checks have landed in the UK.

BRUSSELS — The European Commission asked Meta to change the addictive design of its social media platforms Instagram and Facebook or risk fines for breaking the EU's online child safety rules.

Imagine having to provide a government ID before downloading an app to clock in at work, submit homework, check the weather, or access your bank account. Under a new Texas law, that could become a reality for millions of people.

Every parent wants to know their child is safe online. Congress has an opportunity to make that a reality, but only if it gets the policy right.

The Texas Supreme Court just upheld the 2025 App Store Accountability Act, a law that requires app stores to verify users’ ages. Multiple organizations sued the state, arguing that the law violates children’s freedom of speech, but the Supreme Court has allowed the law to take effect.

The European Commission is pushing for the bloc’s 27 member states to implement age verification by the end of 2026, urging they use its own Age Verification Wallet for the purpose.

Congress is closer than ever to rewriting the rules for young people online. Just last week, the House of Representatives passed the KIDS Act, which includes a revised version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) 2.0. Most of the public debate has centered on what these bills would require online services to do: collect less data, switch off certain engagement features, prevent recommendation of certain content, and give families new controls.

Washington – In response to an emergency request, the Supreme Court has decided not to intervene in an Appeals Court ruling allowing Texas to enforce its App Store law. The law requires people to show government ID or other proof of age before downloading apps and requires parental consent for minors to download apps and app content. It also imposes burdensome requirements on app developers to age rate their content.