When Big Tech Goes Straight to Kids, Parents Should Be Alarmed A mother recently discovered that Google emailed her 12-year-old son with direct instructions — including a link — explaining how to turn off parental controls once he turns 13.
Melissa McKay criticised the tech giant after it told her son how to switch off the safety features ahead of his 13th birthday, and Google changed their policy
The message was sent to the child, not the parent. This kind of communication undermines parental authority and places decisions about a child’s online safety in the hands of a platform whose business depends on data and engagement. Parents deserve to be informed and involved. Children deserve protections that are on by default — not quietly removed.