Opinion: California parents need our lawmakers to pass the Digital Age Assurance Act

Boys share a laptop computer at an elementary school File photo by Timothy D Easley Associated Press If you ve ever felt like you re constantly playing digital catch-up with your kids as a parent you re not alone Parenting in the digital age is no joke Between school sports social lives and now screens our plates are full As a mom of four yes four I know firsthand how tough it is to stay on top of every single app every single trend and every platform our kids engage with Add to that a demanding journey schedule and a full-time career as a content creator and it s easy to feel like you re constantly one step behind But here s the thing just because it s hard doesn t mean we should look the other way If there s one thing I ve learned from being both a digital creator and a mom it s this parents must take the time to stay plugged into their kids online lives And for that to happen we need tools that literally work for real families and guidance to help overwhelmed parents keep track of their kids online activity That s why I was encouraged to see California lawmakers introduce the Digital Age Assurance Act Assembly Bill This proposed decree feels like a long-overdue lifeline for parents like me who want to empower our kids online but with the proper guardrails in place Take my youngest son Brody He s been dancing since before he could walk and he s basically our family s living breathing satisfaction trigger We love sharing his spark with the world through social media but as he gets older I find myself increasingly worried Not just about negative comments or online trolls but about the bigger picture how easily kids can access apps they re not ready for how little consistency there is when it comes to age verification and how powerless we can feel as parents in this fast-moving digital space The Digital Age Assurance Act could help change that It would require all apps to use a universal process for verifying a child s age and getting actual parental consent The best part These tools would be centralized on the App Store ultimately giving us a one-stop shop to manage what our kids can and can t download Imagine being able to easily confirm your child s age and approve apps in one place instead of hoping they re honest about their birthday when prompted and figuring out a new sign-up system every time your child wants to download a new app It s the kind of simple remedy that makes a massive difference for parents already juggling a million things school drop-offs sports schedules work deadlines you name it California has invariably been a state that celebrates innovation creativity and connection But if we want our kids to thrive in this digital world we have to protect them in it just like we do in the real world That means giving parents real control without the guesswork and without the overwhelm I m urging California lawmakers to move this bill forward Because protecting our kids online shouldn t be a luxury it should be a given Danielle Schaffer is a San Diego resident mom to four and a content creator