Google, Meta Platforms and TikTok have sued California to block a new state law that seeks to prevent addictive social‑media features for children under 16.
Assembly Bill 1709 prohibits platforms from offering psychologically exploitative tools such as personalized recommendations and autoplay video, and requires deletion of children’s accounts that include those features.
The companies argue the law forces them to follow California’s content‑presentation rules, overriding parental judgment, and violates the First Amendment and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said it is reviewing the lawsuits and remains committed to defending the law as a commonsense measure to protect kids online.
Companies Believe Parents Should Decide
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill on September 10, stating that children’s safety must drive technology policy and that California will not stand by while unregulated platforms endanger minors.
Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the law is overly broad and breaks the systems designed to deliver age‑appropriate videos, warning that it could undermine child‑safety tools.
Meta contended that California cannot dictate how it curates billions of posts, noting that children can still access similar services on other platforms without the new restrictions.
TikTok asserted that protected speech cannot be suppressed solely to shield young users from ideas or images a legislature deems unsuitable.
Thousands of Lawsuits Allege Addiction
Numerous states have targeted social media for its alleged impact on youth mental health, and in August Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and limit teen use of Facebook and Instagram under settlements with nearly all US states.
Google filed its suit in federal court in San Jose, Meta sued in San Francisco, and TikTok sued in Los Angeles, while Snap and other companies continue to face thousands of individual and municipal lawsuits alleging addiction and a mental‑health crisis.
Countries worldwide have enacted similar bans, including Australia’s restriction on social media for children under 16.
