Rep Gottheimer Announces Bipartisan “Parents Decide Act” to Protect Kids Online

Rep Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) announced the Parents Decide Act, bipartisan, commonsense legislation to strengthen online protections for children and give parents greater control over what their kids can access on phones, tablets, and other devices. Gottheimer’s new Parents Decide Act will:

• Require operating system developers like Apple and Google to verify users’ ages when setting up a new device, rather than relying on self-reported ages.
• Allow parents to set age-appropriate content controls from the start, including limiting access to social media, apps, and AI platforms.
• Ensure that age and parental settings securely flow to apps and AI platforms, so content is tailored appropriately for children.
• Prevent children from accessing harmful or explicit content—including inappropriate AI chatbot interactions—by creating a consistent, trusted standard across platforms.