Campaigns
Big Tech’s business model depends on getting children hooked on smartphones, tablets, and an overwhelming array of apps and games designed to monopolize their attention, and mine their personal information for profit.
Fairplay is here to put an end to that, and you can help us right now.
Tell Congress: Pass the Kids Online Safety Act
Fairplay is leading the movement to get the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) passed, with this bill having garnered overwhelming support from 84% of Republicans, 92% of Democrats, and 81% of independents according to recent polling.
Design choices made by tech companies manipulate users to stay online as long as possible and expose children and teens to inappropriate and harmful content thanks to algorithmic amplification and poor oversight.
If passed, this bill will go far in creating a healthier media environment for kids.
Tell your senators: pass the Kids Online Safety Act!
Putting anonymous messaging apps on notice
On October 19, Fairplay, alongside activist and survivor parent Kristin Bride, filed a Federal Trade Commission complaint to investigate the unfair and deceptive business practices and harmful app design of NGL, an anonymous messaging app.
A growing body of research shows that anonymous apps can worsen teen cyberbullying and its attendant risks. In 2020, Kristin’s son Carson died by suicide after being ruthlessly bullied on LMK and Yolo, two apps that allowed users to send anonymous messages over Snap. While those apps have gone out of business, NGL is still marketed heavily to teens.
Additionally, NGL’s marketing strongly suggests that by paying for a “Pro” plan, users can discover the identities of anonymous message senders, even though NGL itself has admitted that it has no way of doing so!
Advocate against manipulative ed tech
Action Network member, Kailan Carr, was able to get the gamified math app, Prodigy, out of her children’s school. As an observant parent and former teacher, she saw that the app had very little math and lots of manipulative, non-educational game play– and knew there were better ways to get kids excited about math.
In this edition of Action Network Live!, get the full story and learn how you can raise your concerns and make change in your school, too! Guests Rachel Franz, Fairplay’s Education Manager, and Kailan Carr highlight what to look out for in popular education technology, how to approach teachers and other parents without judgment, and how to ask the right questions to ultimately inspire responsible tech use in your child’s school!
