New Digital Safety Law Transforms How Kids Access Mobile Apps

SB 2420 represents a significant shift in how tech companies must protect children online.

The comprehensive legislation places unprecedented responsibility on app store operators to verify user ages before allowing account creation.

Under the new requirements, mobile app platforms must establish what lawmakers define as "commercially reasonable" parental verification systems.

This means parents will need to actively approve their child's digital presence rather than discovering accounts after they're already established.

The law extends beyond simple account creation to address a growing concern among families: unexpected digital spending.

In-app purchase controls now require explicit parental authorization before minors can spend money within games, social media platforms, or entertainment applications.

Industry observers note this approach could fundamentally change how app developers design their monetization strategies.

Parents have long struggled with surprise charges appearing on credit card statements from children's digital activities.

The legislation aims to eliminate these unwelcome financial surprises by creating multiple approval checkpoints.

Digital privacy advocates see the measure as a crucial step toward protecting minors from data collection practices that have operated largely without oversight.

Critics worry the new requirements could create barriers for legitimate teen users who need access to educational or communication apps.

Implementation details remain under development as app store operators work to establish compliant verification systems.

The law represents a broader trend of states taking action on child digital safety where federal regulation has moved slowly.