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Dear Editor:
In the business world, risk is inevitable. My work involves constant risk analysis, aiming to mitigate it, measure it, and plan for the future. It can either lead to higher reward or great potential loss. It’s a constant trade-off. But when it comes to child safety, risk is not just a quantifiable measure to balance. It’s something to prevent altogether. There’s no acceptable margin of error when the stakes involve children’s health and well-being.
The risk I am particularly concerned with does not lie within a forecast model or a spreadsheet. The real harm lies in the unregulated digital space where adolescents are spending the majority of their time.
That’s why I strongly support the App Store Accountability Act, a commonsense step toward fixing the risks posed to families in the online arena. The bill would require apps to standardize app ratings, verify ages, and require parental approval before minors can download new apps.
Across Indiana, families are fighting a losing battle to keep up with the millions of apps and online platforms their loved ones use daily. Each download poses a potential new risk for children, and well-intentioned parents are often left in the dark about what content their children see. Misleading ads, addictive content, inaccurate age ratings, and inappropriate online experiences saturate app stores. Yet, app stores face virtually no accountability for these digital hazards. And in this space, uncertainty doesn’t generate reward, it brings about harm.
Right now, there is a patchwork of different rules. While some apps require parental permission and age verification, others bypass this step. One app might label their platform as “family-friendly,” while another could rate the app for a mature audience. Some apps put complex terms and conditions in front of minors to agree to. Amid all this confusion, tech companies are profiting from a system that treats children like adult consumers.
This bill presents a simple idea with enormous impact for child safety online. A recent study showed that the average teenager receives 200 app notifications a day and uses around 40 different apps per week. Many of these apps collect and store data, contain addictive features to keep users scrolling, and expose adolescents to targeted ads. We shouldn’t allow companies to bypass the same standards of responsibility that apply to every other industry serving minors.
This is where Congress, and leaders like Indiana’s own Representative Erin Houchin, come in. As a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Representative Houchin is in a unique position to stand up for parents and children by supporting the App Store Accountability Act. She has long been an advocate for consumer protection and family values, and this bill unites both. Our entire Congressional delegation should step up and support this legislation.
Indiana families deserve digital safeguards in place, and they should not have to wait for tech companies to police themselves. It’s time for our state and national leaders to ensure that parents and children have the same rights online that they do everywhere else.
The App Store Accountability Act is not just regulation for regulation’s sake. It’s responsibility and protection. As anyone who works with risk knows, responsibility is the first step in preventing harm. By supporting the App Store Accountability Act, Representative Houchin and the rest of the Indiana Congressional delegation can bring safety and peace of mind to Hoosier families.
David Goldberg
Carmel