Op-Ed: Let Parents Parent: North Carolina’s Social Media Ban Is the Wrong Approach
Jason J. Deans
Jason J. Deans
Let Parents Parent: North Carolina’s Social Media Ban Is the Wrong Approach
As a father in an increasingly digital world, I understand the desire to shield our children from the dangers that lurk online. Like many parents, I’m deeply concerned about the impact of social media on kids’ mental health, safety, and overall development.
But here’s what concerns me more: politicians stepping in to make decisions that should belong to parents.
Right now, legislators in Raleigh are considering House Bill 301, a bill that would prohibit children under 14 in North Carolina from having social media accounts, even with their parents’ permission. Under House Bill 301, 14-and 15-year-old users would need parental consent to open an account, but for anyone younger, the choice is completely taken out of our hands.
Let me be clear: I want to protect children. But I also want the freedom to decide how to do that. HB 301 would take that decision away from me and from every other parent in North Carolina.
It’s not just parents raising red flags. HB 301 is nearly identical to Florida’s own social media ban passed in 2023, which was just blocked by the courts (https://apnews.com/article/florida-social-media-ban-minors-lawsuit-678e71c6c6183b87435b7f51feb71fbe) from being enforced. In its ruling, the judge said that the social media ban for children was “likely unconstitutional (https://apnews.com/article/florida-social-media-ban-minors-lawsuit-678e71c6c6183b87435b7f51feb71fbe).” In Texas, lawmakers wisely rejected a similar ban after vocal opposition from parents, student athletes, and conservatives concerned with government overreach. Legislators instead passed a bill to require parental approval before a child downloads apps.
Opposition to social media bans like HB 301 isn’t coming from the radical fringe. It’s coming from conservatives, constitutionalists, and parental rights advocates who understand that the government’s job is not to parent our children for us.
A blanket prohibition on social media doesn’t just raise constitutional questions, it disrespects the role of parents in raising their own children.
Thankfully, there’s a better path forward that’s already gaining traction in other states and at the national level.
The proposal, called the App Store Accountability Act, requires parental approval before any child can download an app and has been signed into law in both Utah (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/26/utah-adopts-child-safety-law-requiring-apple-google-to-verify-user-ages.html) and Texas (https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/28/tech/texas-apple-google-app-store-age-verification-law) this year already. U.S. Senator Mike Lee and U.S. Representative John James have also introduced the App Store Accountability Act (https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1586) at the federal level in Congress.
This approach gives parents real tools to protect their kids while keeping us in control. It doesn’t assume the government knows what’s best for every child. It respects the fact that what’s appropriate for one family may not be right for another.
And here’s the kicker: Parents overwhelmingly support it. According to a national poll, 88 percent of parents (https://www.digitalchildhoodalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DCA-National-Poll-Memo_ASAA-5-1-25.pdf) support requiring app stores to obtain parental approval to download apps. It’s hard to find that kind of agreement on anything these days, but when it comes to protecting our kids and our rights, there’s real unity.
HB 301 has already passed the House, but the Senate still has time to pump the brakes. Instead of rushing toward a solution that strips parents of authority and invites costly legal battles, let’s turn our attention to solutions that empower families and actually work. This is an opportunity for legislators to consider legislation like an App Store Accountability Act and introduce it as an alternative to unpopular social media bans.
As a father, I want my children to grow up in a world where they are safe. I also want them to grow up in a country where parents, not politicians, make the decisions that shape their lives.
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