Parents Deserve Better Tools to Protect Kids Online

Randy Page/for the S.C. Daily Gazette

Every time a child in South Carolina opens their phone or tablet, they gain access to millions of applications available for download.

Parents across the Palmetto State work hard to instill strong values in their children, but the reality is that not every app available at their fingertips reflects those same standards.

A 2024 study conducted by the Heat Initiative and ParentsTogether Action confirmed what many parents already fear.

After reviewing 800 apps in just 24 hours, researchers found more than 200 apps marketed to children that contained concerning content or features, including violent or sexualized games, beauty filters, and anonymous chat forums.

Alarmingly, these apps had been downloaded more than 550 million times.

For South Carolina parents, this is not an abstract problem. The app store has become the front door to an online world that lacks meaningful guardrails for children.

From explicit content to anonymous chat platforms and chatbots powered by artificial intelligence, the risks children face online continue to grow, especially as screen time becomes a larger part of everyday life.

Parents deserve better tools to protect their children and ensure their digital experiences are age appropriate.

That’s why I strongly support the App Store Accountability Act (HR 3149).

Introduced last May by U.S. Rep. John James, a Michigan Republican, the legislation takes a commonsense approach to child safety by placing responsibility where it belongs, at the app store level, and empowering parents to make informed decisions for their families.

South Carolina’s congressional delegation should stand with parents across our state by supporting this effort.

The bill establishes several straightforward protections.

First, it requires app stores to obtain verifiable parental consent before minors can download apps or make in-app purchases, giving parents the final say over what enters their child’s device.

Second, it strengthens age-rating requirements, so families are not misled by inaccurate or watered-down content labels.

Third, it ensures app stores use secure age verification tools that many platforms already have in place.

These reforms are not radical; they are practical. They reflect the same expectations South Carolina parents already have when it comes to schools, entertainment, and other aspects of their children’s lives.

South Carolina families should not have to rely on a patchwork of laws for basic protections.

Last year, app store accountability laws were signed last year in Utah, Texas, and Louisiana. But in December, a federal court blocked Texas’ law. And earlier this month, a tech association similarly challenged Utah’s law in federal court.

A South Carolina proposal by the same name, introduced ahead of the 2025 session, didn’t get a vote.

However, a separate South Carolina bill giving parents more control over apps on their children’s phones did become law this month. The Age-Appropriate Code Design act has already been challenged in federal court.

A national solution is needed to ensure every child receives the same safeguards. This is a position parents overwhelmingly agree on. A national poll found that 88% of parents support requiring app stores to obtain parental approval before minors download apps.

Congressional action can ensure children across South Carolina and beyond have safer online experiences without placing unnecessary burdens on parents.

James’ bill awaits action by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

It includes one member of South Carolina’s delegation: Republican Rep. Russell Fry of the 7th District. He has an important opportunity to support families when this bill comes up.

South Carolina has always prioritized family, faith, and personal responsibility. Holding Big Tech accountable for the digital environments they profit from is consistent with those values.

As technology evolves, our laws must evolve with it, and the App Store Accountability Act is an important step toward a safer digital future for children in South Carolina and beyond.

Randy Page serves as executive vice president of Palmetto Family Alliance. He serves on the board of directors for the Charter Institute at Erskine and Exceptional SC. Page previously served as chief of staff at Bob Jones University and in senior staff roles for Gov. David Beasley, Lt. Gov. Bob Peeler and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.