California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a series of measures on Thursday aimed at enhancing online safety for children, making the state a national leader in regulating social media and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies accessible to young users. The legislation includes unprecedented restrictions on addictive social media features for users under the age of 16 and new requirements for AI companies to disclose chatbot interactions and moderate harmful content.
Among the key provisions is Assembly Bill 1709, which prohibits social media platforms from offering features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay videos to children younger than 16. Another notable measure, Senate Bill 1119, mandates that AI companies warn young users when they are interacting with chatbots rather than humans and imposes a crisis protocol for queries relating to suicide or self-harm. Additional laws expand legal definitions of child sexual exploitation to cover AI-generated or digitally altered images and enhance digital privacy protections for minors.
The legislation follows a growing wave of global regulatory efforts focused on reducing the risks social media and AI pose to children. Countries including France, Britain, Indonesia, and Greece have introduced similar restrictions for users under 16. In the United States, the movement gained momentum after lawsuits alleging that platforms like Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube deliberately employ addictive design elements to keep teenagers engaged. Last month, Meta agreed to a $17.1 billion settlement with multiple states in connection with those concerns.
Newsom emphasized the need for government intervention, noting that parents alone cannot manage the powerful algorithms driving these platforms. “It’s a good day for our children,” he said at the signing event in California’s State Capitol, marking the approval of more than a dozen bills aimed at child digital safety. The legislation also sets financial penalties for social media companies found liable in lawsuits alleging harm to children.
Supporters characterize the move as a critical turning point after years of tech industry resistance. Leading technology firms have argued they have already implemented safety measures and are expected to challenge the new laws on free speech grounds. The companies have historically mounted significant lobbying efforts against child safety regulations, asserting that such laws would impede technological innovation and growth.
Advocates for the legislation welcomed the rapid policy shift. “This is the biggest, most far-reaching set of online protections in the United States and will set a standard for the whole nation,” said Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, a nonprofit child advocacy organization.
The new regulations mark a continuation of California’s leadership in digital privacy. In 2022, the state enacted laws restricting data collection of minors, and earlier this year Newsom signed AI safety testing requirements. Notably, Newsom had previously vetoed a version of the chatbot safety bill last year but has since embraced a more comprehensive approach amid rising concerns about the mental health impact of AI and social media on children.
During the signing ceremony, state Senator Steve Padilla addressed Maria Raine, whose son died after confiding suicidal thoughts to a chatbot, underscoring the urgent human toll driving the legislation. Newsom, in the final months of his governorship and considering a presidential run, pointed to recent international examples as inspiration, referencing Australia’s social media restrictions on children during his State of the State speech earlier this year.
The bills take effect in the coming months, setting a significant precedent for states and countries grappling with the challenges of protecting young users in an increasingly digital world.