Newsom Signs California Ban on Addictive Social Media Features for Under-16s
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 10
Newsom Signs California Ban on Addictive Social Media Features for Under-16s
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 10
Summary
California on Thursday enacted one of the toughest U.S. youth social media laws, barring platforms from offering “addictive” features to users under 16.
The law pushes companies to redesign products for younger teens if they want to keep serving them, with “infinite scroll” and autoplay cited as concerning features.
Newsom’s signature turns a bill previewed earlier in the day into a national-first restriction, part of a broader state-led push to curb teen social media use.
The move adds to California’s wider child online safety effort, which also includes a separate measure requiring AI chatbots to disclose they are not human and limiting dangerous content.
Will California's ban on addictive algorithms actually save teens, or just force tech giants to invent stealthier manipulation tactics?
As California mandates AI chatbot warnings, how will platforms verify a user's age without destroying the digital privacy of everyone?
Could stripping away endless scrolling and autoplay fundamentally collapse the internet's attention economy before the year ends?
Regulating Big Tech for Kids: California’s $1 Million Civil Penalties, AI Chatbot Laws, and the Global Ripple Effect
Overview
California’s groundbreaking child online safety laws were sparked by tragic suicides linked to AI chatbots, leading to lawsuits and national scrutiny. In response, lawmakers passed SB 243 and a suite of bills to regulate AI and social media, though compromises weakened some measures and drew criticism from former supporters. Tech companies lobbied heavily, while courts and advocacy groups debated privacy, free speech, and enforcement. The state established an e-Safety Commission and tough penalties for violations, pushing platforms to redesign addictive features. California’s actions have set a national and global standard, influencing other states, federal policy, and international regulations.