Big Changes Coming to the App Store in Texas
Starting January 1st, 2026, folks in Lubbock (and across the Lone Star State) might notice something a little different when downloading apps from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It’s all thanks to a new law called the App Store Accountability Act (Senate Bill 2420) — and while it’s aimed mainly at protecting kids online, it could make the whole app-download experience look a little different for everyone.
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The new law requires app stores to verify the age of users who sign up for accounts. If that user is under 18, the store will need parental consent before the app can be downloaded or before in-app purchases can be made. That means extra steps — and possibly some frustration — for families in Lubbock who share devices or accounts.
For parents in the Hub City, this means more control — but also more responsibility. Each minor’s app account will have to be tied to a verified parent or guardian account, and consent will need to be renewed if an app changes its content or features in major ways.
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Say your teenager wants to grab a new game or social app — even something harmless like TechConnect+ or a music-streaming app. The store may ask for parental verification before the download goes through. It’s designed to keep kids safe, but it might feel like one more hoop to jump through on busy days. Or just straight up government overreach.
What About Adults in the Hub City?
Good news: this law doesn’t mean everyone in Lubbock will need to show ID just to download Candy Crush. The age-verification requirement isn’t the same thing as full identity verification — it just confirms whether you’re over or under 18. Adults should see little to no change when grabbing apps, regardless of content.
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So, no — you won’t have to flash your driver’s license to download a weather app or scroll TikTok — at least, not yet.
They say the goal behind Texas’ new law is to protect minors. But as with any big change, there could be some growing pains. If you’re in Lubbock and you’ve got kids with phones or tablets, it might be time to brush up on your parental-control settings — because come January 2026, the app store will need to see some verification.
What is your favorite “hidden gem” in Lubbock that most people don’t know about?Gallery Credit: Landon King 
