Now Congress is considering a bill that could weaken those protections. 

It is called the Parents Over Platforms Act, or POPA. The name sounds parent-friendly. But 116 child-safety, anti-trafficking, faith, and parent organizations from 43 states are warning that POPA could protect Big Tech more than children. 

POPA could override stronger state laws already passed in Utah and elsewhere. In plain English, Congress could create a weaker national standard and block Utah from doing more to protect children online. 

In 2025, Utah passed the App Store Accountability Act, requiring app stores like Apple and Google Play to verify ages and get real parental consent before minors can download apps or make purchases. It also created accountability when companies fail children. 

Big Tech fought back. A major tech trade association sued Utah in federal court. But after Utah strengthened the law through H.B. 498, the industry backed down. For years, parents were told meaningful online protections could not survive legal challenges. Utah proved otherwise. 

That is why Apple and Google began backing weaker alternatives like POPA. 

Under POPA, “age verification” can still mean little more than a child typing in a birthdate. Parents know how useless that is. It is the same honor system that has allowed children to enter adult digital spaces for years. 

POPA lets developers largely self-report whether their apps should be covered. That means companies profiting from children’s attention, data, downloads, and purchases would help decide whether the rules apply. 

POPA does not fix the broken app rating system parents rely on every day. Apps can be marked “safe” for children even when they include anonymous chat, sexual content, violence, addictive design, or predatory features. 

POPA also leaves children vulnerable to confusing terms of service they cannot understand. These contracts can include payments, data collection, location access, cameras, microphones, photos, and contacts. 

And when protections fail, POPA gives app stores broad shields from liability. Parents get no meaningful private right of action. State attorneys general are sidelined. 

That is not parental empowerment. That is platform protection. 

Children today face addictive algorithms, anonymous messaging, explicit content, exploitation, sextortion risks, and systems designed to keep them scrolling. 

Utah’s approach puts parents in control and places responsibility where it belongs: at the app-store level, where Apple and Google already control downloads, payments, and parental tools. 

POPA moves in the opposite direction. It gives the appearance of reform while preserving loopholes that have failed families. 

Congress should not punish states that are leading. Utah parents should never have to accept weaker protections just because Apple and Google want Washington to step in. 

Dina Alexander, MS, is the CEO of Educate and Empower Kids.