Meta and Google Dispute New Child Safety Regulations

The debate over online child safety has intensified as Meta and Google clash over a new law that changes how children download apps. This legislation, first introduced in Utah, has sparked discussions across the tech industry, raising concerns about privacy, parental controls, and data security.

Meta’s Stand: Parental Approval for App Downloads

Meta, along with Snap and X (formerly Twitter), advocates for app stores—such as Google Play and Apple’s App Store—to implement parental approval before children can download apps. According to a report in The Verge, Meta believes that verifying age at the app store level is more effective than leaving the responsibility to individual app developers.

By enforcing age restrictions at the app store level, Meta aims to:

• Give parents more control over their children's online activities.

• Ensure a uniform system for age verification across all apps.

• Reduce the risk of children accessing inappropriate content.

Meta argues that this centralized approach would prevent developers from setting their own inconsistent or weak age restrictions, which could put minors at risk.

Utah Becomes the First State to Enforce the Law

Utah recently became the first U.S. state to pass a law requiring parental approval for child app downloads. This move sets a precedent for other states that are considering similar regulations.

Supporters of the law argue that:

• It strengthens online child protection.

• Parents gain better oversight of the apps their kids use.

• It creates standardized safety measures across different apps and platforms.

With more states exploring similar legislation, the national impact of such laws could reshape how children interact with digital platforms in the future.

Google’s Opposition: Privacy and Data Security Risks

While Meta and other platforms support this law, Google strongly opposes it, citing serious privacy concerns. Google argues that the law forces app stores to share children’s age data with millions of developers, which increases the risk of data misuse.

Google believes that:

• App developers, not app stores, should manage age verification and parental controls.

• Forcing app stores to handle parental approvals violates privacy by distributing sensitive user data.

• Stricter regulations should be placed on developers to prevent age-related data abuse.

Essentially, Google’s argument revolves around who should be responsible for protecting children online—app stores or app developers.

Apple’s Concerns: Minimizing Data Collection

Apple has also expressed concerns, though its stance differs slightly from Google’s. Apple supports child safety measures but believes companies should collect as little personal data as possible. The company emphasizes the importance of privacy-first approaches while implementing child safety features.

The Core Debate: Who Should Be Responsible for Child Safety?

The heart of the debate is simple:

• Meta, Snap, and X believe that app stores should enforce age restrictions and parental controls.

• Google and Apple argue that app developers should handle these measures, not app stores.

While Meta and its supporters focus on ensuring parental control through app stores, Google is concerned about potential data privacy risks if app stores must manage and share children’s information.

What’s Next? The Future of Child Safety Laws

With multiple states considering similar laws, this debate is far from over. The final outcome could reshape how kids access apps and how much control parents have over their children’s digital experiences.

Key questions that remain include:

• Will other states follow Utah’s lead and enforce similar regulations?

• How will app developers adapt if app stores take control of parental approvals?

• Will stricter privacy policies be introduced to prevent data misuse?

As child safety laws continue to evolve, the tech industry must strike a balance between parental control, privacy, and security. The outcome of this battle between Meta and Google will determine how children’s digital experiences are shaped in the years to come.

Conclusion: The Ongoing Battle for Digital Child Safety

The clash between Meta and Google over child safety laws highlights a critical debate about how to protect children online while maintaining privacy and security. Meta, along with Snap and X, supports a centralized parental approval system at the app store level, ensuring a standardized approach to age verification. Meanwhile, Google and Apple argue that app developers should be responsible for enforcing child safety rules, warning that app store-level controls could lead to privacy risks and data misuse.

With Utah leading the way, other states are closely watching how this law unfolds, and more regulations may follow. The outcome of this debate will shape the future of digital parenting, determining whether parents will have greater control over their children's online activities or whether privacy concerns will shift the responsibility back to individual apps.

As the conversation around child safety, digital privacy, and app regulations continues, a balanced approach is necessary—one that ensures strong parental controls while safeguarding user data privacy. Whether app stores or developers take the lead, one thing is clear: the protection of young users in the digital age remains a top priority for policymakers, tech companies, and parents alike.