Creating A Safer Digital Environment for Our Children

by Walter Morton

In today's digitally driven society, social media plays an outsized role in the lives of individuals, especially among the younger generation.

As we’ve seen teenagers connect and reap the benefits of socializing through social media, concerns have also arisen about the online safety and mental health impacts of minors using some platforms. In response to these dynamics, it’s become clear that we need a federal framework that streamlines parental safety measures in a straightforward and comprehensive way.

In my view, the best way to do that is through a parental approval requirement that enables parents to approve their kids’ social media app downloads for users under the age of 16. 

Currently, the regulatory approach taken to age-appropriate access to social media platforms is a patchwork of state laws and individual app policies. This lack of consistency can lead to confusion and varied standards across different platforms. Parents face the challenge of navigating these differing regulations, creating a complex environment that does not effectively protect the privacy of users and well-being of younger users online.

A federal solution is crucial to creating a standardized system. By implementing a unified approach through the app store, parents can provide age verification for their children once, when setting up their phone, making the process more straightforward, efficient and less intrusive than an app-by-app model, which would require users’ private information to be given every time they downloaded a social media app.

“...it is important to equip parents with a tool that allows them to make sure their kids are having a safe online experience. ”

Additionally, a federal model ensures that all social media apps adhere to the same age verification standards, creating a level playing field. This consistency not only simplifies the process for parents but also holds apps to a universal standard, promoting a safer online environment for children.

As social media continues to shape the landscape of how we communicate and receive information, it is important to equip parents with a tool that allows them to make sure their kids are having a safe online experience.

A federal solution for parental consent through the app store offers that, and allows families to make decisions on what is best for them and their kids. By embracing this approach, we can empower parents, simplify the process, and create a safer digital environment for the next generation.

Walter Morton is a former member of the Board of Education in Hamden.