Parents Decide Act
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| Long title | To require operating system providers to verify the age of any user of an operating system, and for other purposes. |
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| Legislative history | |
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The Parents Decide Act is a proposed United States law that would require operating system developers to verify users' ages when setting up a new device, and make parents verify the creation of accounts under 18 years old, allowing them to set content controls from the start.[1] Smartphones, computers, gaming consoles, TVs, and other computing devices would need mandated age verification.
Background
The bill arose as a result of the rise of harmful AI chatbots and inappropriate content children could access on social media, where they could self-report their ages without checks. It was motivated by cases such as the suicide of Mason Edens after being shown and liking dozens of graphic videos relating to depression and suicide, some promoting the method he used. Mason's mother, Jennie DeSerio said “I completely believe in my heart that Mason would be alive today had he not seen those TikTok videos,”.[2]
It is unclear how this bill would require age verification to be done, or prove that an individual is the parent. It does not require members of Congress to lay out this info before passing the law, but have the Federal Trade Commission decide on the details later.[3] It would give parents control to limit access to apps, social media, AI platforms, etc. that their children can view.
Opposition
Opponents of the act ranging from both conservative and liberal viewpoints express concern over government overreach, security risks, and a breach of privacy and free speech. The bill is also universal in its use, not allowing previous/current devices to be used until age is verified, with the rules not even written out yet. Partisan concerns arise as the regulation is dictated by the Federal Trade Commission, with a small group of commissioners that are unelected and chosen by the President of the United States.[4] The vagueness also creates concerns over OS developers being able to share the data they receive to third-party companies.[5]
See Also
References
- ↑ "RELEASE: Gottheimer Announces Bipartisan "Parents Decide Act" to Protect Kids Online". Josh Gottheimer. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
- ↑ "Did TikTok videos inspire a teen's suicide? His mom says she found graphic evidence". NBC News. 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
- ↑ "A New Age-Verification Bill Could Make You Show ID To Use a Computer or Smartphone". Yahoo News. 2026-04-22. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
- ↑ Conservative Ladies of America (2026-04-16). "The "Parents Decide Act" Doesn't Let Parents Decide Anything". Conservative Ladies of America. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
- ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2026-04-17). "US may force operating systems to have mandatory age verification, share info with third parties". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
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