Opinion: It is critically important to declare support of the federal App Store Accountability Act. At its core, this legislation is not about restricting innovation or limiting opportunity. It is about reinforcing a simple, foundational principle: parents, not tech companies and not the government, should have the primary authority to decide what their children can access online.

In rural Oklahoma, families often rely heavily on smartphones and tablets as their primary digital access point. For many households, especially those without multiple devices or robust parental control tools, app stores serve as the front door to the internet. Yet currently, children can download apps, create accounts, and access social media platforms with minimal age verification and little meaningful parental involvement. That model does not reflect Oklahoma’s family-first values.