Utah on Wednesday became the first state to pass legislation requiring app stores to verify users’ ages and get parental consent for minors to download apps to their devices. The bill headed to the desk of Gov.

A bill that would seek to regulate digital app stores on phones and tablets passed through the Utah Legislature on Wednesday, putting it on track to go before Gov. Spencer Cox for consideration.

The bill comes amid an ongoing divide between app stores and social media platforms over who should be responsible for age verification.

Utah has become the first state to pass legislation requiring parental consent and age verification measures for application stores, such as Google and Apple.

The bill has pitted Meta against app store giants Apple and Google over who should be responsible for verifying ages.

It’s so important that parents understand which apps their kids are downloading.' Advocates call for parental oversight in app stores.

Utah’s legislature has passed a new bill that would require app stores to verify the age and identity of all users, including adults. The bill now awaits signature by Governor Spencer Cox, who signed a similar bill last year that was blocked by a federal judge over First Amendment concerns.