No parent today needs convincing that the internet can be dangerous for children. From explicit content and online predators to addictive design and mental health harms, the digital world presents challenges most of us never faced during our growing up years. As Legislative Liaison for Concerned Women for America of South Dakota, a public policy organization committed to strengthening families and upholding constitutional principles, I share the concern that we must do more to protect kids online.
We should begin with common ground: children deserve protection, and policymakers are right to examine whether current safeguards are sufficient. We must acknowledge an essential truth: parents bear primary responsibility for raising and guiding their children. Our laws and policies should reflect that truth. Public policy should reinforce, not replace, parents’ rights to direct their children’s upbringing.
That is why South Dakota lawmakers should seriously consider streamlining tools to help parents oversee the content on their children’s devices and ensure their activity aligns with each family’s values. One piece of legislation that seeks to accomplish this is House Bill 1275, introduced by Rep. John Hughes, that is currently under consideration by the House State Affairs Committee.
Rather than attempting to regulate each individual app or social media platform after the fact, HB 1275 addresses the gateway through which children access digital content: the app store.
Under this model, minors would be required to obtain parental approval before downloading apps. Age verification would occur at the app store level, not across countless websites and platforms. Apps would be subject to consistent age ratings, giving parents clearer, standardized information about the content their children are accessing.
This is not about government micromanaging families. In fact, it is quite the opposite. HB 1275 affirms rightful parental guidance and ensures they have the tools to make informed decisions.
Critically, an app store level approach is also more protective of families’ privacy. Requiring every individual platform to independently verify ages could create a patchwork of data collection practices, increasing the risk that sensitive information is stored and shared in ways that compromise user security. Centralizing age verification at the app store level limits that exposure while maintaining accountability.
Of course, companies that profit from online platforms should continue improving safety standards and moderating harmful content. They must act responsibly. But no company or regulatory agency can replace the judgment of a parent who knows their child’s maturity, vulnerabilities, and values.
As someone who works closely with legislators and families across our state, I hear a consistent message: parents feel outpaced by technology. They do not want Washington bureaucrats raising their children. They do not want Silicon Valley executives making moral decisions for their families. They want to be the decision makers for their families.
HB 1275 offers a practical, constitutionally sound step forward. It strengthens parental oversight without infringing on free speech or innovation. It recognizes that while protecting children online is a shared responsibility, it is one in which parents must remain at the center.
South Dakota has long valued strong families and personal responsibility. As lawmakers consider this bill, they have an opportunity to advance both and to ensure that in the digital age parents remain the primary guardians of their children’s wellbeing.
*This op-ed was written by Lisa Gennaro, Legislative Liaison, Concerned Women for America (CWA) of South Dakota. It was originally published in the Dakota Scout, Counterpoint on February 18, 2026.
