As a parent, I am trying to help my child have a healthy and safe relationship with technology.

I set screen-time limits. I restrict apps. I manage gaming. I check privacy settings.

But as my child gets older, I have realized that screen time is only one small part of the problem.

Our kids move constantly between phones, computers, games, social media, messaging apps and now AI tools. Every platform has different parental controls, privacy settings and ways for kids to communicate.

Parents are expected to figure all of this out, one app and one device at a time.

That isn't realistic.

And knowing that my child spent three hours online doesn't tell me what happened during those three hours.

Was my child being bullied? Was a stranger trying to contact them? Was someone asking for personal information? Were they exposed to sexual or violent content? Was someone trying to sell them drugs?

That last question is especially frightening. Social media and messaging platforms can be used to reach young people for illegal activities, including selling drugs. The same communication tools that allow our kids to talk to their friends can also give strangers access to them.

Parents cannot solve this problem with screen-time limits alone.

And we shouldn't have to read every message our children send. Kids need privacy and increasing independence as they grow. But parents also need better tools to know when something may be seriously wrong.

We need one child digital safety standard that is open and works across devices, operating systems and apps.

I am asking Apple, Google, Microsoft, Meta and major social media, gaming and messaging companies, including platforms like Snapchat and Roblox, to work together on an open, interoperable and privacy-preserving child safety standard.

Imagine setting your family's basic safety preferences once instead of recreating them across dozens of apps and devices.

A common standard could give families:

• One place to establish basic safety preferences across devices and apps.
• Consistent protections around privacy, content, communication and contact with strangers.
• Safety alerts when there are credible signs of serious danger, such as bullying, predatory behavior, sexual exploitation, self-harm, drug activity or other illegal activity.
• Better protections on platforms that allow adults or strangers to communicate with minors.
• Clear information showing parents which apps and services meet the safety standard

And the responsibility cannot fall only on Apple or Google. Apps and platforms that allow communication with minors must also be responsible for detecting, reporting and responding to illegal activity happening on their services.

This is not about spying on our kids.

I don't want a transcript of everything my child says or does. I want technology companies to help parents recognize serious risks while still respecting children's privacy.

I have spent more than 25 years working in technology, from building software to leading technology and product teams. I know what I am asking for isn't technically simple. Privacy, encryption, security, age and consent all make this complicated.

But complicated doesn't mean impossible.

These companies already work together on open technical standards, APIs, security requirements and developer policies used by millions of apps across industries and domains.

They can work together on child safety too.

Parents shouldn't have to become cybersecurity experts, detectives and content moderators just to keep their kids safe.

Technology companies built this digital world. They should help families make it safer.

I am asking the technology industry to come together with parents, child-development experts, privacy advocates, educators and technologists and build a common child digital safety standard.

One standard. Every app. Every device. Safer kids.

If you believe parents deserve simpler, stronger and more consistent ways to protect our children online, please sign this petition and share it with another parent.