Social Media Regulation for Children Under 16 in California
With new laws signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, social media platforms are banned from using addictive features targeting users under 16.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed new legislation banning addictive features for users under 16 on social media platforms to enhance child safety online.
New Legal Steps for Child Safety
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law more than 10 measures on September 11 aimed at increasing child safety in digital environments.
Among these comprehensive regulations signed is a ban on social media platforms offering potentially addictive features for users under the age of 16.
Prohibited Designs and Regulations
The new regulations do not completely ban social media use for children under 16; instead, they focus on designs that target user psychology.
Features that extend browsing time, such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, and algorithmic recommendations, fall under the scope of this ban.
Artificial Intelligence and Corporate Responsibilities
The law also strengthens the regulation of AI-powered chatbots for children, making risk assessments mandatory.
Major social media companies that fail to comply with the rules and act negligently, causing harm to children, may be forced to pay compensation of up to $1 million per child.
Concerns of Companies and Organizations
Companies like Meta stated that they remain committed to safety measures while expressing concern that restricting personalized content could affect young people's ability to explore their interests.
Some digital rights organizations, on the other hand, warned that age verification technologies could create new privacy issues.