**Excerpt:**
The debate over who should verify children’s ages online is heating up, with tech giants clashing over responsibility. A coalition backed by Meta, Spotify, and Match Group argues that Apple and Google—as gatekeepers of app stores—should handle age checks. But the two tech titans push back, insisting app developers bear the burden. As states like Utah and North Carolina pass stricter laws, privacy and free speech concerns loom large. With federal regulation likely, the battle over who controls youth access to the internet could redefine digital safety—and corporate accountability—for years to come.
(For deeper insights, Bloomberg’s Emily Birnbaum has covered the lobbying efforts in detail.)
