(Yadusha “Dusha” Jones) – I can’t stand watching kids zoned out on screens, phones, tablets, you name it, while the world moves on without them.
Most children shouldn’t have electronics unless an adult’s right there, and even then, screen time needs a hard limit: one to two hours a day, tops.
The stats are eye-opening: kids aged 8-12 average 4-6 hours daily on devices, and teens hit 7-9, per Common Sense Media’s 2024 report.
That’s not play, it’s technology parenting our kids, dishing out endless reels, ads, and content no child should touch.
Parents, it’s time to grab the reins, because screens aren’t babysitters.
It’s not just lost hours; it’s what kids stumble into. Unsupervised, they’re one swipe from toxic posts or apps snatching their personal info.
A 2023 Pew Research study says 60% of parents lose sleep over their kids’ online privacy, but too many feel helpless. I get it, life’s hectic, and tech’s relentless.
But we can’t let devices raise our children. We’ve got to set boundaries, talk face-to-face, and show up.
Until every family gets this down, we need tools to keep kids safe online, and I found something worth your time.
Just next door, Utah’s stirring up trouble with a law that’s got me worried, and Nevada needs to take notice.
The App Store Accountability Act (S.B. 142), starting May 7, 2025, makes app stores like Google and Apple verify users’ ages and share if they’re kids or teens with app developers, potentially thousands of them.
It’s encrypted, but here’s the catch: it’s not guaranteed parents get to sign off on that data sharing. Without strict guardrails, what’s stopping someone from misusing your kid’s info?
My heart sinks thinking about it.
The law also demands parental approval for every app download or purchase, which sounds good but could drown us in notifications and cut teens off from tools like study apps or maps.
A Spry Strategies poll shows 70% of Utah parents back it, but good intentions don’t always mean good results.
I came across a Google blog that breaks this down and offers a smarter path: It suggests sharing only what’s needed—like if a user’s a minor—with apps that require it, like social media, and only with parents’ consent.
A weather app doesn’t need your kid’s age, but Snapchat does—let’s keep it that way.
It pushes developers to add kid-safe features, like content filters or “take a break” prompts, bans targeted ads for under-18s (Google’s done this since 2021), and proposes a single parental dashboard to manage apps without the chaos.
It’s not perfect, but it respects families and privacy.
Utah’s law is close enough to matter, if we don’t watch our neighbors, Nevada’s next. That’s why I’m proud to lead BLEXIT Nevada, a movement empowering families and communities to take charge of our future.
We’re here to spark tough conversations, push for real solutions, and build stronger neighborhoods, because our kids deserve it.
Want to stay in the loop on how we’re helping Nevada?
Join us for free at blexit.com and become a member. Start by reading that blog, then tell me: what’s your plan to keep kids safe online?
Let’s share ideas and protect our children together.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views.
