This proposal would shift the responsibility for implementing parental controls from social media companies to app stores like those managed by Apple and Google.
The move comes in response to criticism of how Meta handles teenagers using its platforms, especially with concerns related to child safety. In a blog post, Antigone Davis, Meta’s global head of safety, called for a “simple, industry-wide solution” to regulate children’s social media usage.
The proposed solution involves parents granting approval for their teenagers under the age of 16 to download apps. App stores would be mandated to notify parents when a teen attempts to download an app, allowing parents to decide whether to approve the download. Parents can also verify their child’s age during phone setup, reducing the need for repeated age verification across multiple apps.
Meta’s decision to push for parental control laws coincides with the company facing multiple lawsuits regarding its handling of child and teen users. Additionally, a whistleblower recently testified before the US Congress, expressing concerns about Instagram’s efforts to protect teenagers from online harm.
The call for parental control laws seeks to streamline the regulatory landscape and provide a unified approach to child safety across social media platforms. While Meta has introduced various tools to promote online safety, lawmakers in the US are increasingly passing local regulations, potentially leading to a complex legal framework for tech firms like Meta.
In March, Utah became the first US state to mandate parental consent for children to use social media apps, and Meta is now advocating for a national law to address the issue.
Antigone Davis emphasized the need for collaboration between the industry and lawmakers to create efficient ways for parents to oversee their teenagers’ online experiences. She stated that legislation is necessary to ensure that all apps used by teenagers adhere to the same standards, and that placing the responsibility for parental controls on app stores could also help protect user privacy by limiting the collection of sensitive identifying information by multiple companies.