Google is expanding its Play Age Signals API to Android developers worldwide by the end of 2026. The technology was initially available in Brazil and will first roll out to Australia and Canada by mid-August before the global expansion.
The API allows developers to obtain a user's age range without accessing personal information like date of birth. Google centralizes age-sharing controls inside the Family Link app, so parents do not have to manage settings app-by-app.
Parents can share their child's age range directly with apps via the Google Family Link parental controls dashboard. Age ranges are not shared by default; parents must opt in. Adults can also share their age when prompted by app developers.
Regulatory context and industry response
The expansion comes as lawmakers and regulators globally pressure app stores to provide better protections for minors. Apple launched its age-verification tools globally in February.
In the United States, the Supreme Court recently paused a lower court injunction, allowing the Texas age verification law to take effect. The Texas law mandates age-gating features in app stores. The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) has opposed these age verification laws.
Google's system does not require an ID or selfie verification. The Play Store already has content ratings for apps, which map to age ranges used by developers. Age ranges are dynamic and may change as young users get older; a 13-year-old may stay in the same content bracket for a few years.