More than 50 child advocacy groups have formed the Digital Childhood Alliance to promote child safety online, and urge lawmakers to pass the App Store Accountability Act. The coalition supports the bill as an important step toward protecting children and teens in an increasingly online world.
Members of the coalition include many prominent conservative think tanks and organizations, including the Institute for Family Studies, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, and the Heritage Foundation, authors of Project 2025.
“The time for action is now,” said Melissa McKay, online safety expert. “Nearly 90% of teens use an iPhone, yet Apple treats child safety as an afterthought. The company that sets the standard for innovation refuses to apply the same functional elegance to its protections for kids, burying ineffective tools under layers of menus while profiting from children’s easy access to predatory apps. Apple has the power to lead on child safety but chooses inaction, leaving children unprotected in a digital world designed to exploit them.”
“App stores are exposing children to risks while hiding the fine print,” said Michael Toscano, Executive Director, Institute for Family Studies. “Children can download a video chat app that connects them with strangers while sharing their exact location, an online pharmacy that sells medications, or a payment platform – use it for a few hours, delete it, and their parents would never know. This bill closes that loophole. It is time to enact common-sense legislation to protect children.”
The App Store Accountability Act introduces three primary reforms.
First, verifiable parental approval for all downloads and purchases on mobile app stores.
Second, appropriate age ratings that reflect in-app experiences.
Third, secure age verification, and making sure developer comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Popular free-to-play mobile game Genshin Impact recently had to pay a hefty fine for violating COPPA.
The App Store Accountability Act has been introduced in several states, including Alaska, Alabama, Kentucky, and Utah.
See the official Digital Childhood Alliance website to learn more about the Act, and the full list of groups.
