California limits addictive features on social media for children
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California Governor Gavin Newsom signed over a dozen laws on Thursday aimed at protecting children online, with one key law prohibiting social media companies from using features that intentionally addict users under 16 years old.
Newsom stated these new rules go further than a similar Australian law because they target the underlying design of social media platforms. The California legislation focuses on features like endless scrolling, algorithmic recommendations, and automatic playback, labeling them as psychologically manipulative.
Rather than ban children from social media altogether, the new laws specifically address these addictive functions. Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, already agreed in August to implement a similar approach as part of a settlement with California and other US states after facing legal challenges for potentially violating child privacy and consumer protection laws. Other laws signed by Newsom cover areas like chatbots, age verification, child sexual abuse material, and technology use in schools.
Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube did not respond to requests for comment regarding the new legislation.
