Chronological coverage updated 10th September 2026 22:30.
Update 1 · 10th September 2026
California Enacts First-in-US Ban on Addictive Social Media Features for Minors
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a sweeping package of 13 digital safety bills into law on Thursday, marking the first legislation in the United States to ban social media platforms from providing addictive features to children under 16. The legislative suite aims to curtail powerful platform algorithms, placing new statutory obligations on major technology firms operating within the state. Sources: bmmagazine.co.uk.
Key Provisions and AI Chatbot Restrictions
At the core of the package is Assembly Bill 1709, which outlaws design elements such as autoplay videos and infinite scroll for under-16 users. Alongside social media restrictions, Senate Bill 1119 introduces regulations governing corporate artificial intelligence. AI companies must explicitly notify young users when they interact with a chatbot rather than a human, provide parental controls, alert guardians if safety settings are disabled, and maintain crisis response protocols for self-harm queries. Sources: bmmagazine.co.uk.
In addition, Assembly Bill 2 establishes specific financial penalties for civil lawsuits directed at social media companies accused of inflicting harm on minors. Broader measures within the 13-bill package expand digital privacy protections, update child-safety design laws following prior court rulings, and widen the legal definition of child sexual exploitation to encompass AI-generated or digitally altered imagery. Sources: bmmagazine.co.uk.
According to bmmagazine.co.uk, Josh Lowenthal, Democratic Assembly member who introduced the social media bill said: “We have passed a tipping point, it’s now an avalanche.”.
Industry Resistance and Legal Battles
Major tech companies including Meta, Google, and TikTok deployed extensive lobbying efforts across state capitals to oppose the measures, maintaining that adequate safety settings already exist and that state intervention hampers sector growth. Technology trade groups are anticipated to file legal challenges asserting First Amendment free speech violations. The legislation comes after widespread trials this year where thousands of teenagers, school districts, and US states compared social media platforms to tobacco products. Sources: bmmagazine.co.uk.
Meta settled legal claims brought by 47 states, Washington DC, and US territories for up to $17.1bn while committing to structural platform changes for young users. — according to bmmagazine.co.uk, as reported by bmmagazine.co.uk.
According to bmmagazine.co.uk, Jim Steyer, Chief executive of Common Sense Media said: “This is the biggest, most far-reaching set of online protections in the United States and will set a standard for the whole nation.”.
According to bmmagazine.co.uk, Jeffrey Chester, Executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy said: “There’s no question the lobbying power neutralized policymakers, but this has been a galvanizing moment where policymakers realize we are at a crisis moment.”.
California's enactments follow broader global trends restricting youth digital access. Britain announced plans for an under-16 social media ban expected by spring 2027, alongside age-18 restrictions for AI romantic companion chatbots, while France, Greece, and Indonesia have instituted similar statutory limits. Sources: bmmagazine.co.uk.
- California has enacted Assembly Bill 1709, banning features like infinite scroll and autoplay for under-16s, alongside SB 1119 regulating AI chatbots.
- Tech platforms are expected to challenge the package in court, citing First Amendment free speech concerns after intensive lobbying.
- The legislation aligns California with international moves in the UK, France, Greece, and Indonesia to restrict minor access to digital platforms.
Sources: bmmagazine.co.uk