Last week, Alabama families received long-overdue good news. Governor Kay Ivey signed HB161, the App Store Accountability Act, into law, making our state a national leader in protecting children online and restoring parental authority in the digital age.
For years, parents have done everything we can to raise responsible, thoughtful children. We set curfews. We know our kids’ friends. We monitor what they watch on television. But when it comes to smartphones and app stores, many parents have felt locked out of the decision-making process.
That changes now. The App Store Accountability Act requires app stores to verify users’ ages, link minor accounts to parent accounts, and obtain parental approval before children and teens can download new apps.
In practical terms, it creates a simple, centralized system where parents can approve or deny app downloads without having to chase down permissions across dozens of individual platforms.
As a mom and leader with Moms for Liberty in Madison County, I regularly hear from parents who feel overwhelmed by the pace of technology. Apps today are not neutral tools.
Many are built with addictive algorithms, expose children to explicit content, or open doors to online predators. Parents know this. We see the effects in our homes and schools.
Until now, app stores have operated as gatekeepers without sharing responsibility. They profit from downloads while parents shoulder the consequences. The new law simply ensures that before a minor downloads an app, a parent is notified and given the opportunity to say yes or no.
That is not radical. That is common sense.
Importantly, this law respects the fundamental principle that parents, not tech corporations and not bureaucrats, are best positioned to decide what their children are ready to handle. Alabama’s legislature deserves tremendous credit for advancing this bill with overwhelming support.
And Governor Ivey deserves thanks for signing it into law and standing firmly with families. Our state has now sent a clear message: Parents matter. Our voices matter. Our authority matters. The digital world is evolving quickly. Technology will continue to change.
But one constant should be that families, not corporations, are empowered to guide children’s development. With the App Store Accountability Act now law, Alabama has taken a meaningful step toward restoring balance and putting parents back in the driver’s seat.
Other states, and Congress, should take note. Because protecting children online should never be a partisan issue. It should be a parenting issue.
Emily Jones is a mom from Jackson County running for the State Board of Education and advocating for Alabama families.
