It’s Time to Hold Big Tech Accountable and Equip Parents to Protect their Children
By Senator Angela Paxton
As a mother, grandmother, and former educator, I’ve spent much of my life working to protect and nurture children. In each of these roles, I’ve seen firsthand how the digital world has outpaced the protections we have in place for young people. It’s time we catch up—and that’s exactly what Senate Bill 2420, the App Store Accountability Act, aims to do.
Today’s children are growing up in a world where the internet is not a tool but a constant presence. Apps are downloaded in an instant, and access to content - often harmful, addictive, or exploitative - is only a few taps away. Unlike brick-and-mortar retailers that are required to verify age before selling restricted products like alcohol or tobacco, app stores operate without meaningful guardrails. That has to change.
SB 2420 equips parents with clear, enforceable tools to help protect their children in the digital marketplace. It requires app stores to verify a user’s age category, obtain parental consent for minors, and notify parents of any significant changes to the apps their children use. It ensures that if a parent revokes consent, the app must restrict access for the child. And it holds tech companies accountable when they fail to do their part - through enforceable provisions under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and a private right of action.
Parents are the first and best line of defense for their children. But even the most attentive parent can be blindsided by misleading age ratings or changes to apps that open the door to harmful and inappropriate content. Apps are often self-rated - sometimes deceptively - by developers with little oversight, and the industry has shown time and again that it will not police itself. A recent Wall Street Journal investigation found that many apps labeled as “safe for children” included inappropriate material. That is not acceptable.
Children represent one of the most lucrative consumer demographics in the digital economy. Unlike adults, most of their spending is discretionary - and tech companies know it. That’s why they design addictive experiences that keep kids scrolling, clicking, and spending. Whether it’s behavioral addiction to video games or the constant dopamine loop of social media, our children are being targeted and monetized with cold, algorithmic precision.
SB 2420 is about shifting that balance of power - putting it back in the hands of parents, where it belongs.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about protecting kids. It’s about holding powerful tech platforms accountable. And it’s about giving parents the information and authority they need to make informed decisions in a digital age.
Technology should serve families, not undermine them. Senate Bill 2420 is a step toward restoring that principle.
