Meta, Google And Tiktok Sue To Block California Teen Social Media Law
The companies say California’s restrictions on features for users under 16 violate federal protections, while privacy advocates warn the law could prompt more age checks.
Meta, Google and TikTok have filed separate lawsuits seeking to block a California law that restricts social media features for users under 16. The companies argue that Assembly Bill 1709 violates their First Amendment rights and conflicts with Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act. California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office says it is reviewing the filings and will defend the law, according to TechCrunch.
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What the law would require
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1709 in September, and it is scheduled to take effect at the start of the new year, TechCrunch reports. The law bars platforms from offering autoplay videos and personalized feeds to users under 16. Platforms would have to delete those users’ accounts if they did not turn off the restricted features. According to TechCrunch, noncompliance could bring fines of up to $50,000 per affected user.
Engadget describes the measure as part of a broader effort to limit features that could encourage compulsive use among young people. Newsom said when he signed it that California would not stand by while unregulated technology put children at risk, the outlet reports.
Why the companies are challenging it
The lawsuits argue that California cannot dictate how platforms select and present content. Meta says the restrictions would force it to change its feeds and autoplay practices or stop providing its service to minors. Google and TikTok make similar constitutional and Section 230 arguments, according to both reports.
The companies also contend that the law interferes with parental choices about teenagers’ online use, TechCrunch reports. A Google spokesperson said YouTube already turns off autoplay for minors by default and lets parents disable their teens’ access to Shorts. Bonta’s office, meanwhile, called California’s child-protection laws commonsense measures it intends to defend.
Privacy concerns and the broader dispute
Opposition to AB 1709 extends beyond the platforms. The Electronic Frontier Foundation warns that determining which users are under 16 could lead companies to collect more information from everyone, including adults, and make anonymous use harder. Its associate director of state affairs, Rindala Alajaji, also argued that restricting teens’ access could cut them off from information and opportunities to participate in public debate, according to TechCrunch.
The cases arrive as the companies face other legal claims about children’s experiences on social media. Engadget reports that individuals, schools, cities and government bodies have filed thousands of lawsuits alleging that platforms addict young users and contribute to a mental health crisis. Those allegations are separate from the companies’ challenge to AB 1709. For teams building or overseeing social platforms, the California cases center on a product-design question: whether the state can require changes to features such as recommendations and autoplay for younger users.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.