AB 1709 leaves parents and kids exposed where it matters most

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OPINION – When I first heard about Assembly Bill 1709, I leaned in. As a parent and founder of Parent Support for Online Learning, I’ve spent years advocating for student wellness in digital environments.

This is exactly the kind of issue families across California care deeply about. We all want stronger guardrails for our kids online. I want to support AB 1709. I really do. But as currently written, it risks missing the mark—and in doing so, could create a false sense of security for parents while leaving the biggest gaps unaddressed.

First, the bill raises a fundamental question: which platforms does it actually cover? As parents, we know how our kids spend most of their time online. Yet depending on how “covered platform” is defined in AB 1709, some of these most popular platforms may not even fall under its scope. If that’s true, we are regulating the margins while ignoring the mainstream. Any meaningful age restriction policy must apply consistently across all major platforms—not just a select few.

Second, we need to be honest about how today’s teens use technology. Many of our kids understand something policymakers must fully grapple with: you do not need an account to access most content. Anyone can open a browser and scroll endlessly without logging in. If AB 1709 focuses only on account creation, it leaves a wide-open back door. And kids—resourceful as they are—will find it in minutes. A serious policy must address both account-based and non-account access if it’s going to be effective.

Third, and just as important, is privacy. Parents support age verification in principle. But we should not support a system where our children’s personal information is handed over to dozens of tech companies just to prove their age. That approach trades one risk for another. Families should not have to choose between protecting their kids from harmful content and protecting their data from misuse.

A better solution would be centralized, secure verification—something that minimizes data exposure while still achieving the goal of keeping kids safe. This is where we need to shift our thinking. The answer is not simply more control by Big Tech. It is more empowerment for families.

Through initiatives like the Digital YOUth Leadership program, we are working to do just that—equip students with the tools to navigate digital spaces with kindness, resilience, and self-awareness.

Grounded in principles of digital wellness, this approach teaches young people how to manage online stress, engage respectfully, and build healthy relationships with technology. Just as importantly, it brings parents and caregivers into the conversation, ensuring they are informed, supported, and actively involved.

Because here is the truth: no algorithm will ever replace a parent’s judgment. No platform policy can substitute for engaged, informed families.

As AB 1709 moves to the California State Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, lawmakers have an opportunity to get this right. Strengthen the definitions. Close the loopholes. Protect student privacy. And most importantly, ensure that parents—not tech companies—remain at the center of decisions about their children’s digital lives.

California can lead on this issue. But only if we build a framework that reflects the realities families face every day—and gives them the tools they actually need.

Tillie Elvrum is a parent and founder of Parent Support for Online Learning.