The ACLJ has just filed a major amicus brief in Computer & Communications Industry Association v. Paxton, now pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. At stake is a transformational effort – already gaining traction across the country – to restore parental authority in the digital age through laws like the Texas App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420).

This case is not just about one state. It reflects a growing national movement. Legislatures across the country are recognizing what parents already know: The modern app ecosystem has fundamentally reshaped childhood, often with devastating consequences. And increasingly, states are stepping in – not to censor speech – but to ensure that parents, not Big Tech, remain the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives.

Take action with the ACLJ to protect parental rights – sign our petition.

A Growing Movement to Protect Families

The momentum behind app store accountability laws is undeniable. State lawmakers are responding to a mounting body of evidence linking unregulated app access to serious harms: rising rates of anxiety, depression, addiction, and even suicidal ideation among children and teens. The U.S. Surgeon General has sounded the alarm, warning that social media and digital platforms pose a profound risk to youth mental health.

But instead of imposing sweeping content bans or heavy-handed censorship, these new laws take a different – and constitutionally sound – approach. They focus on the gatekeepers: app stores. By requiring age verification and parental consent for minors to download apps or make in-app purchases, these laws restore a commonsense safeguard that technology has........

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