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Bill

SB 175

Establish age verification, parental consent for apps, developers

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tom Patton

Ohio bill requiring apps to verify user age and obtain parental consent before minors access platforms, shifting compliance responsibility to developers.

Reported - Substitute
#commerce #publicsafety #technology
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Bill Summary · SB 175

Legislative bill overview

SB 175 would require social media and digital applications to implement age verification systems and obtain parental consent before allowing minors to use their platforms. The bill establishes developer responsibilities for verifying user age and obtaining documented parental approval for users under a certain age threshold.

Why is this important

This addresses growing concerns about child safety online, exposure to inappropriate content, and data collection practices targeting minors. The bill attempts to shift responsibility to app developers rather than relying solely on parental monitoring, though enforcement mechanisms and compliance costs could significantly impact the app industry.

Potential points of contention

  • Technical feasibility and privacy tradeoffs: Age verification systems typically require collecting sensitive personal data (ID photos, SSNs, payment information), raising questions about who stores this data and how it's protected from breaches
  • Compliance burden on developers: Implementation costs could disproportionately impact small developers and startups while being easily absorbed by large tech companies, potentially reducing market competition
  • Constitutional concerns: Similar laws have faced First Amendment challenges regarding age-gating content, and questions exist about whether parental consent requirements apply equally to all app categories or only social media

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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