Apple CEO Tim Cook recently made Headline News Call Texas Governor Greg Abbott in personThe most profitable Income flow. Cook’s move symbolizes a broader model: Large tech leaders desire profit Distribution from addicted predatory applications.
The law signed in the App Store Accountability Law in Texas – Cook’s Appeals didn’t work – I worked on my job for less than six months after my colleagues were doing research on Heat Initiative. Wall Street Journal. After the report we published on the App Store, we make sure to track which apps have changed their age scores. One that stands out is Drawing Happy Police: Trivia GameThis is an app with comments that says: “No 4-year-old must see or touch a semi-naked girl or man”, but as of December 3, 2024, the rating is 4+. After our report was released, the app has been completely removed from the App Store and reappeared in late January 2025 at the age of 17 and above. Drawing Happy Police: Trivia Game also offers in-app purchases, which clearly demonstrates the priority of developers and CEOs in terms of profits – they would recommend an inappropriate app to a 4-year-old and allow them to spend their parents or guardians’ money on it.
I was browsing Apple’s app store recently when I came across App Famefy. Famefy makes young people stick to artificial reality by creating AI-simulated fame experiences, including (fake) fans and live streaming. App creators boast: “Whether you’re simulating hype or living a life of a virtual celebrity, Famefy offers a realistic fan experience that makes you feel like a real star.”
Texas forces Google and Apple to verify age in the app store. Next is the teen social media ban.
In the usual private moments, such as applying makeup or choosing clothing, the popularity and live streaming of simulations raises a desire for attention, teaching young people to share intimate moments with anonymous audiences. As a young teenager, I feel rushed when I long to live with my followers, and now with apps like Famefy, not just young kids, their followers may be fascinated. Do we see it in pop culture? Cat storyline In Season 1 Happy,or information For anyone under the age of 18, the only voyeurism and the removal of the boundaries of children is a key element in the profit model of many large tech companies.
Mixable light speed
It’s not by chance that most teenagers use social media and have created design features to take advantage of a fast dopamine sprint. Create a feelingAddictedMost users feel that only big technology is beneficial to big technology when publishing or scrolling feeds 82% of Gen Z Think they are addicted to social media.
Famefy also offers in-app purchases to choose to build your “perfect audience.” When I read about in-app purchases, I immediately got an age rating because buying anything from younger users again, let alone the attention of fake audiences, is predatory money that predatory users are predatory. Developers and Apple know this, which is why I think they give Famefy an age rating of over 4 years old.
Tim Cook’s desperate need to park in Texas will legally require Apple to ensure an accurate age rating for a single app. I would even advocate going further and require independent verification of age ratings, such as what we have in video games, movies and TV shows. With such accountability, I think applications like FameFy will be forced to update their ratings.
Lennon Torres is a public voice for the OPED program to prevent child sexual abuse. She is an LGBTQ+ advocate, grew up in the eyes of the public and gained national recognition from young dancers on TV shows. Lennon Hot Plan. This column reflects the author’s opinions.
