Like millions of parents across the country, the thought of my kids encountering inappropriate content online is a daily worry. While I try my best to make sure their experiences are age-appropriate, I know violence, profanity, anonymous messages, and pornography are never more than a few taps away – and it all starts on the app store.
As I have previously written, the App Store Accountability Act (HB 3149) finally gives parents the upper hand in the fight to protect kids from online harms by recognizing the role app stores play as linchpins of the digital ecosystem. The legislation – supported by 88% of parents like me – creates a direct, reliable way for parents to oversee the platforms on their child’s device by requiring verifiable parental consent before every app download or in-app purchase.
Instead of forcing families to chase settings across dozens of platforms, this approach makes parental consent simple, meaningful, and centralized. Whether an app is for games, social media, streaming, or chatbots, parents would have a consistent, secure way to approve or block kids’ access. After all, dangerous content is not confined only to the apps parents have heard of – think Roblox and TikTok – it’s actually spread across a variety of apps, many of which appear harmless at first glance.
With thousands of new apps appearing in app marketplaces every day, families need practical and adaptable tools to ensure the online spaces their children enter are truly age appropriate – the App Store Accountability Act delivers these mechanisms.
The bill also closes a dangerous loophole in the app rating system. Today, most self-rate their applications, creating a system that incentivizes misleading or dishonest age ratings to increase downloads. Currently, there are apps labeled for children that can expose children to content parents would never knowingly allow.
Under the App Store Accountability Act, app stores are held accountable for accurate and consistent ratings. This bill gives parents trustworthy information before they approve an app. When families can rely on age labels that match real content and features, they are better equipped to make informed choices and keep their kids in age-appropriate digital spaces.
This legislation would not regulate speech or content but rather restore parental authority. The App Store Accountability Act would not tell parents how to parent – it simply ensures that they have all the tools and resources to make the decisions that align best with their family values.
Supporting this act is not about ushering in a new form of surveillance or creating a “digital ID.” This legislation simply formalizes a responsible chain of custody where app stores, the very entities that control access to the digital marketplace, are accountable for verifying that a minor has legal authorization to participate. Rather than forcing individual apps to collect sensitive identification data, the App Store Accountability Act relies on a secure, encrypted signal from the app store that protects privacy while allowing parental oversight on minors’ devices.
Parents are doing their part. Now it’s time for app stores to do theirs. The App Store Accountability Act puts families first, strengthens parental involvement, and brings much-needed accountability to a digital marketplace that touches nearly every child’s life.
In Washington, D.C, lawmakers have a clear opportunity to stand with families and support the App Store Accountability Act. When the App Store Accountability Act comes to a vote on the Energy & Commerce Committee, I urge Congressman Fry to think about the parents and youth of South Carolina.
Families here at home – and nationwide – are counting on our legislators to make the right call, stand with parents, and defend our children online.
Ashley Jones is Vice President of the Pee Dee Republican Women and Executive Director of Less Than Three SC.