US Senator Mike Lee and US Representative John James recently introduced the App Store Accountability Act into Congress to protect children from inappropriate content online. Current law places zero responsibility on app stores to ensure accurate age ratings or to verify the age of their users. The new bill would require app stores to participate in age verification and obtain parental consent before minors can download apps. Ultimately, this legislation places more power into the hands of parents to protect their children from online dangers.

Legislators at both the federal and state level should support bills that protect children from harmful content online. This proposal is an excellent step in the right direction. In Wisconsin, a broader age-verification bill is currently waiting for a vote in the Senate. The bill should pass, and Governor Evers, in his self-proclaimed “Year of the Kid,” should sign it into law.