California Bans Addictive Social Media Features for Teens Under 16

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law Assembly Bill (A.B.) 1709, which bans the use of addictive design features on social media platforms for users under 16 years old. The bill is part of California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code and aims to protect younger teens from manipulative online practices.

This legislation targets features that are designed to keep users engaged longer than they might otherwise be, such as infinite scrolling or notifications engineered to create a sense of urgency. It's an effort to reduce the potential for addiction and mental health issues among young social media users.

How can I ensure my child’s privacy on social media?

To protect your child, review their privacy settings and limit the amount of personal information they share online. Encourage them to use platforms that comply with A.B. 1709.

What automated safeguards can I set up for my teen's social media accounts?

You can enable parental controls on devices and monitor their activity through apps designed to track usage patterns, ensuring they are not exposed to harmful addictive features.

Further details at the source

PRESS RELEASE: EPIC Applauds Gov. Newsom For Signing Prohibition on Addictive Features, Changes to California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – EPIC applauds Governor Newsom for signing into law California’s A.B. 1709, which prohibits social media platforms from making addictive design features available to users under 16 years old. “This is different than what Australia did. This is better than what they did,” Governor Newsom said upon signing A.B. 1709. “This is about … Continued

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