1 week Ago
By Molly Conway Guest columnist It’s no surprise that the average teenager spends more time on their smartphones as they get older, where they receive dozens, if not hundreds, of app notifications, according to a 2023 report co-led by the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Common Sense.
As a parent of a teenager, I know that it’s all too easy for teens to have unlimited access to apps at their fingertips. While I have tried my best as a busy parent to monitor my teenager daughter’s phone and set restrictions on what she can download, I know there is plenty that can slip through the cracks, especially because young teens might not be truthful about their age online. Today, verifying my child’s age and determining what content is suitable for her is essentially being left up to the developers of each individual app, which has led to inconsistent standards and experiences for parents.
If an app doesn’t have thorough age verification measures, teens could potentially be exposed to inappropriate content. It would make much more sense for parents like me to be the ones determining what content is appropriate for our teens, not the app developers. Luckily, parent voices like mine are being heard, and momentum is building to solve this serious problem through laws that would make the primary Apple App Store for iPhones, or the Google Play Store for Android devices, responsible for verifying users’ ages and obtaining parental consent before allowing teens to download apps.
This would make both the device’s app store and the parent partners in protecting their child’s safety. Not only would this simplify the process for parents by centralizing this information, but it also empowers parents to have conversations with their teens regarding their online experiences. Several other states are currently working to pass state laws that hold app stores accountable for implementing these important safety measures, and while I wish I could say Michigan is one of them, we do have strong leadership on this issue from our federal delegation.
Congressman John James has been leading the charge to protect not only Michigan teens, but all young people in America, with his App Store Accountability Act (H.R.10364/S.
5364). Rep. James recognizes that in this day and age there’s no good reason app stores shouldn’t be held to the same standards to check that our teens are of age to be on social media apps, similar to how their ages would be checked if they were to try to buy alcohol from the grocery store.
As a parent, it is my responsibility to keep my teen safe both in the real world and online, and legislation like the App Store Accountability Act makes this easier for busy parents navigating the complicated issue of teen safety online. A centralized place for age verification is a huge step forward and is long overdue in the modern digital age. I’m proud that Michigan has a leader in Washington D.
C. like Congressman James who is prioritizing the safety of our children, and I hope that our state lawmakers consider following in his footsteps and act by introducing this legislation here to Michigan. Our children will thank us when they are parents themselves.
Molly Conway, a Clarkston resident and parent, is an attorney and Chief Administrative Officer for Birmingham-based Van Conway & Partners..
