Image by sharpemtbr from Pixabay
April 28, 2026 - WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) have introduced a bill to strengthen protections for minors online. The bipartisan Parents Over Platforms Act would require app stores and developers to establish safeguards for minors downloading apps online and provide parents with more tools to moderate children’s online access. This bipartisan bill would require app stores to implement age-assurance processes to distinguish minors from adults, develop tools allowing parents to block apps for their children, and limit targeted ads for minors.
“Our cellphones and other connected devices play a huge role in all of our lives – with apps helping to foster community and boost our economy. At the same time, certain apps pose real risks to children and teens, and we have a responsibility to keep our children safe when they go online or use social media,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why Senator Moran and I are introducing a bipartisan bill to protect our kids from harmful content and bad actors. Our legislation would establish rules for app stores and app developers to help provide parents with the tools to keep their children safe.”
“Our bipartisan legislation would strengthen protections for children online and help make certain parents can keep their families safe in today’s increasingly digital world,” said Senator Moran. “Requiring app stores and app developers to put safeguards in place will support efforts to bolster protections for minors as they navigate an online environment that is too often harmful for young children. As these threats grow, it is important that we put measures in place to be certain parents are equipped with the tools to keep their children’s online access safe and age appropriate. I look forward to hearing from stakeholders in Kansas about this important issue.”
“The Parents Over Platforms Act is a smart approach to protecting kids online without sacrificing privacy or innovation. Parents want tools to help their kids learn and grow. This bill delivers meaningful safeguards while minimizing data collection and upholding privacy.” – Koustubh “K.J.” Bagchi, VP, U.S. Policy and Government Relations, Chamber of Progress
“We urge Congress to listen to the small business community and support the Parents Over Platforms Act, which protects children and empowers developers with a flexible, risk-based approach to parental control without turning every small app into a gold mine for hackers. We need to do more to protect our kids from inappropriate content online, and POPA does that in a way that maintains parental control over how much of their children’s data is shared.” – Morgan Reed, President of ACT, The App Association
“FOSI welcomes POPA into the discussion for how best to regulate age assurance. We have long said that age assurance is not an online safety solution in and of itself; the real benefit comes from apps and platforms taking that age information and providing age-appropriate experiences to users. We are encouraged by this more flexible, proportional approach and framework that allows for multiple options for parents, app stores, and apps themselves.” – Family Online Safety Institute
Senator Rosen has fought to promote the safety of minors online. Senator Rosen helped pass the bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act into law, which prohibits non-consensual, intimate visual depiction of adults and minors. Last Congress, she voted for bipartisan legislation that combined portions of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which protects the privacy of children and teens online, and the Kids Online Safety Act, which requires online platforms to implement safeguards to protect users under 17.
Source: Senator Jacky Rosen
