Starting Thursday, Apple is implementing an age verification system for new users in Texas. To download apps or make purchases, users 18 and older must confirm their age using a credit card or official ID. Minors, on the other hand, will need to join a family group and obtain parental consent to access these features.
Integrated Parental Control in Account Management 🛡️
The measure is part of an update to Apple's servers that links the user's age with their payment method or ID document. Technically, the system cross-references account data with external verification databases to confirm legal age. If the user is a minor, the account is automatically restricted until an adult adds them to a family group. This process runs in the background when creating a new Apple ID from Texas, without affecting existing accounts.
Minors One Click Away from Asking Mom for Permission 😅
Now, if you're a minor in Texas and wanted to download a game without your parents knowing, you're out of luck. Apple forces you to join the family group, which basically means asking for permission out loud. The good news is that adults can use the age verification excuse to review their children's download history. The bad news is that kids will have to find more creative ways to trick the system, like borrowing their grandpa's credit card.