Major tech companies are clashing over who should bear responsibility for protecting children online, as U.S. states rapidly enact varying age verification laws. Meta (Facebook’s parent company) and other app makers argue that app stores like Apple’s and Google’s should verify users’ ages, while Apple and Google counter that individual apps are better suited for the task and that such laws may infringe on children's privacy. States like Utah, Texas, and Louisiana have already passed laws requiring tech firms to verify age and obtain parental consent for users under 18. Lobbyists from Meta, Apple, and Google are now targeting other states like South Carolina and Ohio, trying to influence upcoming legislation.

The debate has intensified after a Supreme Court ruling upheld some age verification requirements. Meta supports laws that put the burden on app stores, likening them to liquor stores that must check IDs. Apple and Google reject that analogy, saying app stores are more like malls and apps should do the checking.

As laws spread, tech lobbying groups are splintering. Meta has left some alliances and formed new coalitions, even backing groups like the Digital Childhood Alliance to promote its position. Meanwhile, Apple-backed organizations are running campaigns against the laws, arguing they hurt small developers and don't address real harms. With companies forming new alliances and pushing rival policies, the tech industry faces increasing fragmentation over who should safeguard minors online.