City Council backs federal age‑verification bill to protect teens online
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Summary
Springfield’s council passed a resolution urging Massachusetts’ federal delegation to support the App Store Accountability Act, calling for age verification and parental approval for app downloads to reduce youth exposure to harmful content and predators.
The Springfield City Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Dec. 1 endorsing federal legislation that would require app stores to verify user ages and require parental approval for minors to download certain apps.
Councilor Govan presented the resolution, saying online safety is a priority and that age verification centralized at regulated app stores would be safer for families than disparate approaches. The resolution cites mental‑health concerns, cyberbullying, harmful content and predatory contact as reasons for the council’s support.
Councilors across the chamber voiced support and asked to be added as cosponsors. Several cited constituent experiences with cyberbullying and predators and emphasized youth mental health; the resolution asks the city’s federal delegation to consider HR 3149 and S 1586 (as referenced in the transcript) and directs that copies be sent to both U.S. senators from Massachusetts and the representative for the 1st Congressional District.
The council recorded the roll call and passed the resolve; the clerk will forward the resolution to the federal delegation.