Florida must give parents more say in what apps their children are downloading
There’s been a noticeable shift in the air among conservatives following the horrific and senseless assassination of Charlie Kirk. This isn’t a shift in messaging or ideology, but in conviction. We are called now, more than ever, to cement the legacy of a true patriot by advancing the American principles Kirk so fearlessly championed.
I founded Moms for Liberty to advance parental rights and ensure parents are not forced to co-parent with the government. I continue to fight government overreach on all fronts. That’s why I’ve spoken up against problematic policy proposals that would sideline parents and put government in charge of parenting. Instead, I support approaches that give parents better tools to keep their kids safe online.In Florida, there’s been heated discourse about government and parental autonomy over children’s activity in the digital space. In early 2024, Florida’s legislature attempted to impose a blanket social media ban for minors 16 and under. This approach would’ve completely overridden the important decisions that parents should be making for their own kids. Thankfully, Gov. DeSantis vetoed that bill attempting to empower the government instead of parents. This did, however, stir up much-needed conversation about the need to protect children online.
So, where do we go from here? Inaction is certainly not an option. Our online ecosystem is not safe – millions of young Americans were fed the horrific and senseless assassination of Kirk online without parents even knowing. Children continue to become exposed to violent, explicit, and sexual content on their devices. Parents are right to be concerned about what their children can access online, but it must be up to them – not politicians – to protect their kids.
The answer to how we defend our children continues to be – and will always be – empower parents.
A better alternative to social media bans and government overreach is ensuring parents are given stronger tools to oversee their child’s online activities. This year, Utah, Texas, and Louisiana passed the App Store Accountability Act to strengthen parental controls by requiring app stores be held accountable and giving parents authority over what their children can access on their devices.
Florida has long been a national champion for parental rights – both in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. While U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) is a co-sponsor of Congress’ App Store Accountability Act, Florida lawmakers can deliver greater protections for children online now instead of waiting for Congress to act.
Florida can continue being a leader and empower parents to monitor their children’s digital exposure. The App Store Accountability Act requires parental consent before minors can download any app on these marketplaces, while standardizing and strengthening app age ratings. This ensures that government takes a backseat to parents and strengthens the available resources for parents to make informed decisions about protecting their children.The parent-focused App Store Accountability Act has another strength: longevity. Trying to legislate platform-by-platform quickly becomes outdated. Take AI for example. When Florida legislators were first considering a social media ban, AI was barely on the radar as a potential harm to children. Now, we’re seeing how AI chat bots are grooming children with tragic results.
A blanket social media ban for youth would’ve done nothing to protect kids against the emerging harm of AI. In contrast, the App Store Accountability Act is structured to empower parents by creating safeguards before children can download any new app – including AI chat bots and whatever comes next.
Florida parents want this. Our Moms For Liberty-commissioned poll found that 93% of Florida parents support requiring app stores to get parental consent for minors to download applications. Parents are asking for tools to help keep their kids safe; Florida can give them this with the App Store Accountability Act.