As children gain access to smartphones and digital devices at increasingly younger ages, concerns about online safety and parental control continue to grow. Host Eric Slaughter led an in-depth conversation with senior director of partnerships at the Progressive Policy Institute Colin Mortimer about national efforts to better protect children online while supporting parents.
Mr. Mortimer joined the program from Washington, D.C., to discuss proposed federal policies aimed at addressing gaps in online child safety.
Mr. Mortimer explained that children now gain access to the internet, social media platforms and apps earlier than ever before, often without comprehensive safeguards in place. While many devices offer basic parental controls, he said those tools frequently place the burden entirely on parents, who may not have the time or technical expertise to constantly monitor activity.
“Parents are really the ones that are expected to do everything, and parents are busy,” Mr. Mortimer said. “They’ve got jobs and responsibilities, and they can’t always be watching over their kid’s shoulder.”
According to Mr. Mortimer , the Progressive Policy Institute is working with members of Congress to advance legislation that would automate age appropriate protections and reduce the need for constant parental intervention. He described proposals that would require platforms and devices to verify a user’s age and automatically block adult content for minors, rather than relying on repeated approval requests sent to parents’ phones.
The conversation highlighted how current systems often overwhelm parents with notifications, leading to rushed decisions or blanket approvals. Mr. Mortimer said more sophisticated approaches using artificial intelligence and content classification could help ensure children only see material appropriate for their age, even within apps already approved by parents.
The discussion also explored differences between regulating smartphones and traditional computers. Mr. Mortimer noted that mobile devices are easier to regulate due to the limited number of operating systems, while home computers remain more complex and customizable. Despite that challenge, he said smartphones remain the primary access point for children online, making them a critical focus for safety efforts.
in addition to that, he also spoke about the Safe Social Media Act and similar proposals aimed at protecting children’s mental health by regulating how content is recommended to young users. Mortimer explained that while adults and children may use the same platforms, the algorithms driving content should not treat them the same.
“It’s about making that distinction between whether a user is under 18 or over 18 and what parents want their children to be able to see,” Mr. Mortimer said.
Addressing concerns specific to Georgia, Mr. Mortimer acknowledged that previous state level efforts to regulate online content have faced legal challenges related to First Amendment protections. He said newer proposals, such as the Parents Over Platforms Act, aim to take a more narrowly tailored approach that empowers parents while standing up to constitutional scrutiny.
To listen to the full interview, click the link above.