US lawmakers are rethinking kids’ online safety by shifting the focus from individual apps to operating systems. A Colorado proposal aims to verify users’ ages during device setup, sending a privacy-preserving age signal to apps, which could set a national standard for age checks on devices rather than apps.
The new system would categorize users into four bands: under 13, 13-16, 16-18, and 18+. When a user tries to access an age-gated app, the OS would send only that age band, allowing or restricting access. This approach replaces patchwork in-app checks that teens can easily bypass.
States are looking for systemic solutions as federal law already protects children under 13 but leaves teens largely uncovered. The US Surgeon General has warned about social media’s risks to youth mental health, and a device-level approach could reduce repeated data entry and exposure of personal information.
However, gaps remain, including websites accessed via browsers outside the bill’s scope, which could become workarounds for determined teens. Stronger checks, like government ID verification or biometric age estimation, raise trade-offs and potential tracking risks.
Industry leaders will need to build standardized age APIs that developers can rely on, potentially extending those APIs to third-party app stores. Colorado’s proposal follows California’s Digital Age Assurance Act, signaling a broader state-led trend, but legal challenges are possible.
Source: https://www.findarticles.com/colorado-moves-to-require-device-level-app-age-checks