Easing parental supervision is ‘irresponsible’: Complaint filed against Google with the Federal Trade Commission

Staff Reporter: PNN

A child rights organization in the United States has criticized Google for allowing children to bypass parental supervision. According to the organization, Google allows children aged 13 to turn off parental controls on their accounts, undermining parental authority.

Melissa McKay, president of the Digital Childhood Institute, said she witnessed Google sending an email to her 12-year-old child stating that new features would be unlocked once the child turns 13.

These changes include the ability to turn off “supervised experiences” on YouTube and add new payment methods to Google Pay. As a result, parents can no longer block apps, control location sharing, or restrict payment features.

McKay said, “Google is asserting control over a boundary that does not belong to them. They are portraying parents as a temporary obstacle and positioning corporate platforms as the primary alternative.”

In October 2025, she submitted a written complaint to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The complaint stated that allowing 13-year-olds to remove parental oversight is “irresponsible” and that such policies pose risks to children’s online safety.

The organization also noted that while Google ensures parental supervision through the Family Link program for children under 13, children can voluntarily disable these controls once they reach that age.

Online safety experts have expressed concern that such policies may place children in risky situations instead of helping them learn safe technology use. DigiDefendr co-founder Joanne Ma said, “Google’s message tells children that parents are obstacles, not partners.”

Experts warn that as children’s and teenagers’ use of technology—especially chatbots and AI platforms—continues to rise, policies that remove parental supervision could be dangerous for children’s mental health and safety.