California has enacted sweeping new technology regulations aimed at protecting children from addictive social media features, artificial intelligence risks and other online threats.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of 13 bills into law on Thursday, September 10, introducing new restrictions on how technology companies can engage with users under 16.
The measures include a ban on children’s exposure to certain behaviourally addictive social media features, new protections against digitally altered child sexual abuse material and a four-year prohibition on the manufacture and sale of toys equipped with AI companion chatbots.
Newsom described the measures as among the most far-reaching technology regulations of their kind in the United States.
A key component of the new legislation is Assembly Bill 1709, which restricts social media companies from exposing children under 16 to features deemed psychologically exploitative and designed to maximise engagement in ways that could lead to compulsive use.
Among the features targeted are infinite-scroll feeds and algorithmic autoplay.
Additional features could also be brought under the restrictions through regulations that will be developed in the future.
The legislation reflects growing concerns over the impact of prolonged social media use on young people’s wellbeing and the business practices used by technology companies to retain users.
Newsom said children should be able to use technology without being exploited because of their vulnerabilities.
“We want our children — and every California kid — to grow up in a world where technology supports their wellbeing, rather than exploits their vulnerabilities,” the Democratic governor said.
California’s technology crackdown also extends to products incorporating artificial intelligence.
One of the new laws prohibits the manufacture and sale of toys containing companion chatbots for four years.
Another measure requires parental controls for chatbot programmes and introduces additional safety and risk assessments.
The legislation comes as governments and regulators increasingly examine the potential risks of AI systems interacting directly with children.
The measures include legislation known as Adam’s Law, named after Adam Raine, a 16-year-old who died by suicide in April 2025.
According to Raine’s parents, their son developed suicidal thoughts during months of conversations with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and they alleged that the chatbot validated those thoughts.
OpenAI has said it intends to strengthen ChatGPT’s safety measures. The company has also acknowledged that some safeguards became less reliable when interactions with users became more prolonged.
The California legislation also expands criminal penalties involving child sexual abuse material to cover digitally altered or AI-generated content depicting anyone under 18 engaging in sexual conduct.
Although the measures received broad bipartisan support, critics have argued that some provisions could unnecessarily restrict young people’s access to the internet.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights organisation, criticised the legislation over concerns about privacy and free speech.
The debate reflects a broader challenge facing policymakers: how to protect children from harmful online practices without imposing restrictions that could affect legitimate access to information and communication.
More States Move Against Big Tech
California is joining a growing list of U.S. states attempting to regulate children’s access to social media.
Utah, Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Florida and New York have also introduced measures targeting children’s use of social media, although the specific requirements vary from state to state.
The movement extends beyond the United States. Australia has also adopted restrictions aimed at preventing children under 16 from accessing social media.
California’s action comes as major technology companies face increasing legal scrutiny over allegations that their platforms are designed to keep teenagers engaged for extended periods.
Meta recently agreed to pay as much as $18 billion over the next decade and accept significant restrictions on teenagers’ use of Facebook and Instagram as part of a settlement with nearly all U.S. states over claims concerning the design of its platforms.
The latest California laws could add further pressure on technology companies to redesign products and engagement systems used by children and teenagers.
By RapidoSpace News
