This policy brief examines the growing risks children face online, including exposure to harmful content, sexual exploitation, and illegal activity, and highlights how the lack of age assurance and verification leaves children vulnerable in the digital environment.

Drawing on research and state examples, the brief explains how age-based protections used in the physical world can be adapted to online spaces to better support children’s safety, development, and mental health. It also outlines policy options for states, including age verification for adult-content websites, social media and gaming platforms, and stronger default privacy protections for children.

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