A recent action by the Supreme Court on its interim docket with significant First Amendment implications merits more attention. On July 6, the Court allowed a Texas law restricting minors’ access to app stores to remain in effect. The case raises important questions concerning the future application of free speech doctrine to minors.
Following what the internet has dubbed “Woke 1,” conservatives became increasingly attentive to the ideological influences manipulating their children. Texas responded by enacting a number of laws aimed at addressing those concerns. One such law, the App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420), requires app stores to determine the age of their users. Accounts belonging to minors must be linked to a parent or guardian, and minors generally need parental consent before downloading an app or making an in-app purchase. This requirement is referred to as the parental-control mandate, while the preceding age determination is the identification mandate. Governor Abbot…
