Platforms, not parents, decide when kids grow up

This article examines how children’s digital age, autonomy, and access are increasingly governed by platform-driven systems rather than parental or social decision-making. It argues that age assurance mechanisms, default account settings, algorithmic content controls, and data-driven monetisation models now play a central role in shaping children’s online experiences, often in ways that are opaque to families. Drawing on contemporary debates in online safety and digital governance, the article highlights a growing shift in responsibility from parents to platforms, raising critical questions about accountability, regulation, and the effectiveness of current child-protection frameworks. The analysis underscores the need for policy responses that recognise the structural power of platforms in determining how and when children participate in digital environments.