As technology has evolved over the past 25 years, minors are more at risk of harm from age-inappropriate online materials, and a growing number of American families are concerned about what their children access on the internet, regardless of their political leanings. Protecting children from online harm should be a top priority for Alabama lawmakers.
With Senate Bill 187, Alabama has the opportunity to join other states across the country in passing legislation that empowers parents and users with greater control over teen app downloads.
Whether at my fitness studio or at the ballpark, parents I speak with want a one-stop shop to oversee and approve the many apps their teens want to download, and by passing Senate Bill 187, Alabama can enact pro-family legislation that leads the way in centralizing safety within a device’s app store. This approach spares users from repeatedly submitting personal information to countless individual apps and online services, and it safeguards parents and teens from harmful content.
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While legislation does not replace the responsibility of parents to monitor the online activities of children, in today’s technology-centered society, it is difficult for even the most dedicated parents to know what their children are doing online all of the time. In fact, a recent report from Common Sense Media pointed out that 58% of teens aged 13-17 have seen adult content accidentally, 18% of whom reported that it was on social media.
That is why the Alabama State House should join the State Senate in supporting a simple solution that could improve the online safety of Alabama’s children. Single moms like me need additional tools to reduce unintended exposure to illicit materials. Parents must have the ability to decide what their children do or do not have access to, and should be able to monitor all their children’s online activities.
As a mom of teenagers, I am hopeful that House members will join the Alabama Senate, which just overwhelmingly passed Senate Bill 187, to hold app stores accountable and create safer digital spaces for families. Passing this meaningful legislation is good policy, and it empowers parents to protect their children from inappropriate material.
Jessica Watkins is a mother and small business owner.
