Parents Over Platforms Act

Summary#

This bill requires mobile application distribution providers (like app stores) and app developers to use age assurance steps to protect minors. App stores must ask users their age when they make an account, try to estimate age using reasonable methods, and give developers an "age signal" when the account holder or their parent agrees. App stores must also let parents stop minors from getting or using apps and show parental-control information on app pages. Developers who make apps that treat adults and minors differently must tell the app store, try to tell adults from minors with reasonable certainty, prevent minors from using adult-only features, get consent before letting minors access adult-only parts, and must not deliver personalized advertising to minors. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce the rules. App stores and developers get limited liability if they make good faith efforts to follow the law. The law would preempt state rules and would take effect two years after enactment.

What it means for you#

  • Parents: You could block children from installing or using apps through the app store and see a single place with information about parental controls for apps.
  • App stores (application distribution providers): You must ask for age, provide developers an age signal when consented to, offer ways for parents to block apps for minors, and show developer-provided safety info on app pages. You also get legal protection if you try in good faith to follow the rules.
  • App developers: You must tell the app store if your app offers different experiences by age, try to determine whether users are minors or adults, prevent minors from accessing adult-only features, obtain consent when allowing minors into age-restricted parts, and not show personalized ads to minors.
  • Minors and users: The bill aims to limit targeted ads to minors and to restrict minors from accessing adult-only content when age checks or parental consent are required.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s stated purpose is to ensure responsible age assurance in the mobile ecosystem and to protect minors. Supporters would point to requirements that give parents control, require age signals for safer app behavior, and ban personalized advertising to minors.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.