California lawmakers pass social media restrictions for teens, send bills to Newsom
SACRAMENTO, California — State lawmakers on Monday approved a plan to ban social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok from offering allegedly addictive features to teens, sending the measure to Gov. Gavin Newsom for a final decision.
The bill, AB 1709, authored by Democratic Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, would restrict users under 16 from accessing certain features designed to maximize screen time, such as infinite scrolling and autoplaying videos. It passed the state Legislature on Monday evening with overwhelming support from Democrats and Republicans in both chambers.
“Parents are asking us to step up and protect their children from the harmful design choices built into today’s social media platforms,” Lowenthal said. “We have a responsibility to listen and respond.”
Republican Assemblymember Josh Hoover, a joint author of the legislation, said lawmakers need to follow through with policies to protect kids. “At the end of the day, it is incumbent on lawmakers to actually follow through with more policies that are going to help protect kids, not just the courts,” he said.
The bill’s passage comes after a settlement deal was reached last week with Meta totaling up to $18 billion over claims brought by dozens of state attorneys general that the company knew its Instagram and Facebook platforms posed youth addiction and mental health risks. The settlement figure was reported by Politico Europe; the Los Angeles Times reported the deal as up to $17 billion.
A Meta spokesperson said the company already provides parental controls and tools for teens.
California’s action is part of a broader trend of politicians opting to restrict specific design elements of social media rather than outright blocking kids from creating accounts, as Australia, France and Malaysia have done. Australia recently banned social media for those under 16.
Other tech and AI bills
The social media measure is part of a larger package of legislation passed by lawmakers on Monday addressing technology and artificial intelligence. Assembly Bill 2 would hold social media companies liable for harm to children, with fines up to $1 million per violation. Senate Bill 947 would prohibit employers from solely using automated decision-making systems to discipline or fire employees. Senate Bill 951 would require employers to give 60-day advance notice before layoffs due to AI.
Unions and workers have expressed concerns that AI will take jobs, and lawmakers are trying to tackle privacy and safety issues as AI features are added to smart glasses and toys. Others are concerned about the proliferation of data centers increasing electricity bills and straining water supplies.
“There’s a heightened level of tech anxiety right now, and that manifests itself from social media to data centers to AI taking jobs,” Lowenthal said. “People are coalescing and they’re demanding that policymakers make change.”
Newsom’s decision pending
Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to decide whether to sign or veto the bills. He has not yet indicated his decision. Newsom has said he supports restricting social media access for teens under 16 and has acknowledged the challenge of adopting regulations that protect the public without stifling the technology industry’s growth.
“I think that’s the constant tension,” Newsom said in an interview earlier this summer. “We’re constantly sort of fighting that balance.”
Newsom, who has close relationships in the technology industry from his time in San Francisco, said only a couple other states have attempted to regulate artificial intelligence like California.
“We’re leaning forward, and we’re iterating. We will push the boundaries and litigate,” he said.
Tech industry groups oppose the bills, arguing they could harm innovation and free speech.
The proposal comes as Washington remains gridlocked on kids’ online safety issues, despite bipartisan support for stricter controls in Congress.
_Politico Europe and the Los Angeles Times contributed to this _