Apple, Google Targeted By Utah’s First-in-Nation App Store Law

App stores such as those operated by Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.‘s Google will have to determine the ages of Utah users and provide guardrails for minors under a first-of-its-kind law Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed Wednesday.

The law (S.B. 142) marks a new approach by states regulating youth online through a focus on devices rather than individual websites or apps. Meta Platforms Inc., Snap Inc., and X Corp. are lobbying states to adopt similar bills across the country. Federal courts have largely paused other types of state social media laws.

Utah lawmakers said the ...