California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation limiting addictive social media features for users under 16 and restricting minors' access to chatbots. The bills mark the state's latest effort to regulate tech platforms' impact on children.
Governor Newsom has signed bills targeting social media and AI services used by minors, addressing concerns about addictive design patterns and unmoderated interactions.
The legislation restricts features commonly used to drive engagement among young users, including infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithmic feeds that promote content designed to maximize time spent on platforms. Social media companies will need to implement these restrictions for California users under 16 or face compliance requirements.
A second bill limits minors' interactions with chatbots, introducing guardrails around AI-powered conversational systems. The measure aims to prevent extended or potentially harmful exchanges between children and artificial intelligence systems that may lack appropriate safeguards.
These bills join California's expanding regulatory framework around youth online safety. Previous legislation has addressed parental controls, data privacy for minors, and platform accountability for harmful content.
The restrictions take effect at different times, with implementation timelines built into each bill to allow platforms time for compliance. Social media companies operating in California will need to verify user age or modify their service offerings to meet the new requirements.
Industry groups have raised concerns about age verification methods and enforcement challenges. Platform operators argue that removing engagement features may impact their business models and that age verification technology raises privacy concerns.
Advocates for the legislation contend that social media platforms deliberately design addictive features targeting young users and that additional protections are necessary. They point to research linking heavy social media use to mental health issues in adolescents.
The bills represent part of a broader national conversation about regulating technology companies' practices affecting minors. Other states are considering similar measures, and Congress has debated federal legislation on youth online safety.
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