OPINION:
Preventing children from accessing explicit material online is a goal every parent, teacher, and state leader supports. While there is great unity in the challenge, a variety of solutions are being offered. Some target and address the problem strategically and successfully. Others advocate one-size-fits-all government solutions that will not — and cannot — sufficiently protect the nation’s children.
As every parent knows, navigating rules around device use for their children can be challenging. And with children back in the classroom, the spotlight is once again on the primary role parents play in their children’s education.
In the past few years, we have seen increased debates in schools, city councils and state legislatures across the country taking place around difficult issues facing our children, as well as the dynamics and priorities of our education system. It has been a clarion call for parents with school-age children to reinforce their primacy in their education. Despite many differences in opinions and ideas, we have learned important lessons about the need for schools, local governments and parents to work together for our children, not in opposition.
In a perfect world, device use and limits are a conversation best navigated by strong, effective communication between parents and children. This should never be regulated. In the best circumstances, parents are in the driver’s seat and play the primary role in the education of their children. This is a critical role that should be embraced, not pushed out, by government at all levels.
That being said, many parents are unaware or disengaged from the danger of these online threats, particularly for those for whom English is a second language or whose life circumstances leave them with less bandwidth to be actively involved parents or require more reliance on government. With all manner of parents in mind, what should the government’s response be, and what role should they play?
Since children are increasingly using devices for classroom learning, homework, entertainment, and everyday communication with their families and caregivers, this has escalated concerns of parents and schools alike on how to protect our children from explicit content and websites. With all this online access, it is vital for parents, teachers, elected officials, and the technology industry to work together toward improving youth safety and online security.
A number of ideas on how best to do this have already been enacted in states across the country. They are thinking creatively and effectively about how to properly size the solution to the problem and are getting it right.
In Florida, for example, a bill was passed earlier this year that requires students to receive education about the harmful effects of social media and responsible online access and engagement in their school curriculum.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox launched a public awareness campaign to warn the public about dangerous online content and highlight the actions parents can take, including safety features and resources available from device manufacturers and online platforms to protect their children.
Louisiana and Virginia have passed legislation that tackles the problem at the source, forcing websites that provide explicit content to require government-issued ID age verification so children cannot access pornography.
These proactive measures are designed to empower parents, teachers and other authorities with readily available tools and resources to help guide the online activities of children.
Other proposed ideas are broader but risk overreaching without specifically addressing and targeting the problem. Some states have considered so-called content filters on devices such as phones and tablets. In theory, this sounds like a no-brainer. In reality, however, these bills are not practical solutions for several reasons.
First, there is no technologically realistic way to selectively enable child-centric security features before the device is taken out of its packaging. Even if these capabilities existed, an all-encompassing government-mandated technology requirement is not the right solution to protect each child. The Supreme Court has already decided that similar sweeping mandates are unconstitutional, and device filter requirements would tie up taxpayer dollars in court for years while impeding creativity in an area where device manufacturers are already innovating and rolling out new products to protect minors.
Second, the notion of relying on device filters assumes that the government knows better than parents when it comes to the oversight of the online habits of their own children. The fact is that children have unique needs and sensitivities, so it’s critical for parents to stay involved in their children’s online experiences, tailor them to each child, and align them with their family values.
Parents need to be educated on how to understand and use content-filtering technologies, resources and parental controls that exist on various devices rather than letting government bureaucrats decide how their children should be monitored or raised.
The technology our children use is constantly changing, and it can be difficult for parents to stay one step ahead of even their own children, particularly teenagers. But ultimately, it is the responsibility of parents, not the government, to protect children from online threats or temptations. We need a robust and comprehensive approach to keeping our children safe online, which includes empowering teachers, lawmakers and, most importantly, parents by making it easier to understand and leverage the abundance of tools that are readily available.
There is a smart role that our local governments can play, and we have seen states where this can be successful. Educators, local leaders and parents can work together to help our kids better understand online risks and work together to help our children make smart choices.
Just as there is no one right policy solution for each state, neither is there one uniform government-mandated solution that will meet the shared goal of keeping our children safe online.
• Peggy Grande served as a political appointee in the Trump administration and was executive assistant to former President Ronald Reagan. She is the author of “The President Will See You Now” and serves on the board of the Pepperdine School of Public Policy and the board of the Center for American Ideas. She is the mother of four grown children and the grandmother of two.
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