Parenting in the digital age presents challenges as parents grapple with decisions about when their children should receive their first phone and how to ensure their safety online. A recent discussion highlights the need for collaboration between technology companies and lawmakers to create effective solutions that support parents.
Parents face difficulties keeping up with their teens' online activities, as teenagers now use an average of 40 apps weekly. Technology companies are working on protections to ensure age-appropriate experiences for teens. Instagram has introduced Teen Accounts in Europe, which include built-in protections guided by parents. However, there is no uniform approach across different platforms regarding content policies and age verification systems.
European policymakers have been addressing these issues for over a decade, but there remains a fragmented regulatory framework. Several pieces of legislation exist at the European level, such as the Digital Services Act and the General Data Protection Regulation. However, they do not provide a consistent approach to age verification or age-appropriate experiences.
The call is for new EU regulations that offer clear protections for teens across all apps they use. The proposed regulation would involve parental approval at the OS or app store level when downloading apps, allowing parents to verify their teen's age easily. This would help place teens in appropriate online environments without sharing sensitive information across multiple platforms.
Additionally, common industry standards are needed for what constitutes age-appropriate content across all apps used by teens. Harmonized regulation across EU Member States would hold all apps to the same standard, supporting both parents and teens effectively.
A proposal has been submitted to the European Commission as part of its consultation on the Digital Services Act, reflecting widespread industry support. A survey conducted by Morning Consult found strong backing among European parents for a law requiring parental approval for app downloads by those under 16 years old.
As technology continues to evolve, it is crucial that both parents and teens are equipped to navigate the digital world safely. Collaboration with industry peers and regulators will be essential in finding workable solutions that ease parenting burdens in this digital era.
