California restricts addictive features on social media for teens
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Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, signed a new law restricting social media features designed to be addictive for users under 16 years old.
The law requires digital platforms to implement measures preventing teenagers from accessing these features. California’s law does not prevent minors from creating or maintaining social media accounts, but it does require companies to disable addictive design features to keep those accounts active.
The legislation defines addictive features as those that maximize engagement and encourage compulsive use, specifically including addictive feeds and the automatic playback of content. These feeds utilize algorithms to personalize content based on user data and past behavior, a practice the law prohibits for minors. However, content directly selected by the user or direct searches are permitted. Rob Bonta, California’s Attorney General, will create rules to enforce the law and determine which platforms fall under its regulations.
Companies that intentionally violate the law may face civil penalties of up to $50,000 per affected minor, or $25,000 for negligent violations. Similar legislation, the SAFE for Kids Act, passed in New York in June 2024, restricts addictive feeds for users under 18 and requires parental consent for recommendation algorithms. The California law will take effect on January 1, 2027.
