California bill to limit social media sites for children under 16 heads to Newsom

Stephen Hobbs, The Sacramento Bee on Aug 31, 2026

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Legislature on Monday approved a bill to require social media companies to provide platforms to children under 16 years old that do not include personalized feeds driven by algorithms, autoplaying videos and other features.

Assembly Bill 1709 had started out as a ban on accounts for Californians under 16, modeled after a policy in Australia. But its author Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, modified the measure in recent months in the face of pushback from senators that pursuing that approach could keep vulnerable young people out of potentially safe online places.

“In other words, the bill regulates how the platforms are designed for kids, not whether kids can access social media altogether,” Lowenthal said Monday. “I feel now this bill addresses what we were truly trying to address all along: prohibiting children from the most harmful and addictive design practices these platforms use.”

California’s approach is one of many efforts across the country by legislators trying to figure out the best way to protect children online in the face of rising rates of youth suicide and adolescents reporting poor mental health.

It is still too early to tell which approach may be the most effective. But the plan outlined in AB 1709 garnered widespread bipartisan support, which Assemblymember Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin, said sends a message.

“That legislators, from progressives to conservatives, all agree that we can’t be giving children addictive social media platforms,” he said.

The bill would allow the attorney general or district attorneys to sue companies under the proposal and it calls for the creation of a safety commission help with its implementation.

The measure, though, was not universally loved. Some thought a ban would be a more effective tool to protect young people. Opponents also included social media companies and civil liberties groups who argued the measure was taking decisions away from parents and could limit the First Amendment rights of young people.

“Parents already have access to tools and controls that allow them to set boundaries and make decisions about their children’s online experiences based on what is right for their families,” said Amy Bos, a spokesperson for NetChoice, a trade group that represents Meta, Google and TikTok. “Rather than imposing one-size-fits-all mandates, we should focus on making sure parents are aware of these tools and have the information they need to use them effectively.”

The measure now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom who has until the end of September to decide on the bill. The Governor’s Office declined to comment on the measure’s passage.

Even if it’s approved by Newsom, opponents could file lawsuits to try and prevent it from taking effect. So, the Legislature’s enthusiasm might not immediately lead to a new law.

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