App store age verification won’t keep young people safe

Protecting young people from online harms requires smart, targeted legislation that addresses the real risks and holds the right actors accountable.

The parent company of Facebook and Instagram is behind the plan that would require app stores to verify user ages, but it conveniently shifts responsibility away from Meta itself, writes Josh Tabish. Unsplash photograph by Julio Lopez

Opinion

BY JOSH TABISH

December 17, 2025

Members of Parliament are under growing pressure from online safety groups to protect young people from the...

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