Protecting children online should be Apple and Google’s top priority!

Across the country, many state bills have called for age verification measures to protect young users from harmful content. Yet, these efforts face legal challenges and complications, with courts blocking laws that require websites to verify users’ ages. So, what’s the solution? The Digital Progress Institute offers a clear path forward:

In the case of NetChoice v. Griffin (2023), Judge Timothy Brooks highlighted a practical solution already available. On iPhones and iPads, parents can set age-related content restrictions, filter online content, and control privacy settings. These built-in parental controls could be further utilized to prevent children from accessing harmful and addictive products on the Apple and Google app stores.

We already enforce age checks in physical stores. For instance, when someone tries to purchase cigarettes, alcohol, or pornography, the cashier is required to verify their ID. Similarly, we should hold online platforms accountable for preventing minors from accessing inappropriate content.

Requiring websites or social media applications to perform age verification could involve uploading photo IDs or sharing personal data with third-party vendors, which raises privacy concerns. Instead, leveraging the existing infrastructure of app stores is a more efficient and less invasive approach. Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store already collect users' ages, so additional personal information would not be required. App stores could simply send a signal to app developers when a child is attempting to download age-inappropriate content. This way, Apple and Google could provide a straightforward thumbs up or down to app developers based on the age verification of the device being used.

Implementing this system would effectively protect children from harmful content, safeguard Americans’ privacy, and uphold the principles of the First Amendment.

Do you agree that this is a necessary step to keep our children safe online? If so, we need your urgent support to make this change happen!

Add your name now and demand that Apple and Google require age verification on their app stores to protect children from inappropriate content. Your voice is crucial in ensuring that our digital platforms prioritize the safety of our youngest users.