Apple’s CEO Tim Cook recently attracted attention by personally reaching out to Texas Governor Greg Abbott to ask for a veto on a bill requiring age verification at the App Store level, which represents a crucial aspect of Apple’s second-largest revenue source. Cook’s initiative exemplifies a wider trend among Big Tech executives keen on profiting from the distribution of addictive, exploitative applications.
The App Store Accountability Act in Texas was enacted into law despite Cook’s attempts, occurring less than six months after a study conducted by my colleagues at the Heat Initiative and myself was featured in the Wall Street Journal. After our investigation into the App Store, we tracked changes in app age classifications. Significantly, Draw Happy Police: Trivia Game, which had feedback indicating, “No 4-year-old should have to see or be exposed to a half naked woman or man,” was classified as 4+ as of December 3, 2024. Post-report, the app was taken down and later reinstated in January 2025 with a rating of 17+. This application also provides in-app purchases, highlighting how developers and CEOs prioritize profit over ethical concerns by promoting unsuitable apps to minors and facilitating spending with the funds of their parents or guardians.
While exploring Apple’s App Store, I discovered the app Famefy, which captivates youth in artificial realities by providing an AI-generated experience of fame, complete with fictitious fans and livestream sessions. The app developers assert, “Whether you’re simulating buzz or experiencing the lifestyle of a digital celebrity, Famefy delivers an authentic fan encounter that makes you feel like a genuine star.”
Simulated celebrity and livestreaming foster a craving for attention during ordinarily private occasions, teaching the youth that personal moments should be shared with nameless viewers. As a teenager, I sought the thrill of broadcasting live to my followers, and currently, apps like Famefy could potentially ensnare not only young children but also those with followings. Whether reflected in pop culture, such as Cat’s narrative in season 1 of Euphoria, or highlighted in news regarding tragic events, livestreaming for individuals under 18 encourages voyeurism and the dismantling of boundaries among children, a crucial aspect of numerous Big Tech companies’ profit strategies.
It is no accident that the majority of teenagers engage with social media, aided by design elements that take advantage of rapid dopamine surges. The “addictedness” felt by most users when they post or scroll benefits Big Tech — 82 percent of Gen Z acknowledges feeling addicted to social media.
Famefy also provides in-app purchases to create your “ideal viewer.” When I learned about these purchases, I promptly verified the age rating because permitting young users to buy anything, particularly the admiration of a fabricated audience, is a predatory cash grab aimed at vulnerable users. Developers and Apple are conscious of this, which probably explains why Famefy was assigned a 4+ age rating.
The legislation Tim Cook sought to halt in Texas will legally mandate Apple to verify accurate age ratings for specific apps. I support an extra measure of independent, third-party verification of age ratings, akin to the standards in place for video games, films, and television programs. With such accountability, apps like Famefy would probably need to reassess their ratings.
Lennon Torres is a Public Voices Fellow on the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse with The OpEd Project. She is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights who achieved national prominence as a young performer on television programs. With a strong commitment to storytelling, advocacy, and politics, Lennon now concentrates on online child safety at Heat Initiative. This column represents the author’s personal viewpoint.