By Rep. Chris Sells
I ran for office in 2014 for a better Alabama for our children and grandchildren, and I want future generations to have the same opportunities that I had growing up.
Unfortunately, our kids are under a barrage every day of information from smartphones, computers and televisions, and a lot of what they see isn’t good. Studies indicate that 47% of young children have their first accidental exposure to pornography on smart phones and tablets.
It’s widely known that pornography has negative impacts to the human brain, relationships, and society as a whole.
This year, with the help of Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R–Prattville, I filed HB 167, the Alabama
Children’s Device Protection Bill, which would require device manufacturers (Amazon, Google, and Apple) to simply turn existing adult content filters defaulted “on” upon activation of a minor’s smart phone or tablet in the state of Alabama. This would happen in a software update we routinely receive on our devices for any other new feature update.
Don’t be fooled by their pushback. Opponents will say that this new regulation will require
Alabama specific devices and be a burden for the business communities. Let’s be clear, the
pushback against this bill is about protecting profit these big tech entities make off the
exploitation of innocent, young lives.
Across the globe, online pornographic and adult content industry is a more than $100 billion industry. As disgusting as that is, that number grows every day. The pornography industry is predatory in nature and intentionally targets children by hiding adult content in children’s programming.
Alabama has a moral obligation to the children of our state to raise a higher standard of care and to do more to protect them on the digital front. If we protect our children from physical harm in everyday life, but not online, we are sadly missing in action for one of the greatest dangers they face.
While it will not prevent all forms of digital harm, HB 167, the Alabama Children’s Device
Protection Bill, would provide needed wide-scale protection and provide a safer digital
environment for our children to grow up in.
Sells, R- Greenville, represents House District 90 which comprises Butler, Coffee,
Conecuh Crenshaw and Montgomery Counties.