California governor signs laws aimed at protecting kids from risks of social media, AI chatbots
The package requires age checks, safety assessments and liability for child harm as lawmakers respond to concerns about addictive feeds and chatbot risks.
- On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1709 in Marin County, prohibiting social media platforms from offering addictive features to users under 16. The measure, dubbed 'Adam's Law,' targets infinite scrolling and algorithmic autoplay.
- Lawmakers named the bill after Adam Raine, a California teen who died by suicide in 2025 after conversing with OpenAI's ChatGPT. The legislation responds to growing concerns that tech companies prioritize engagement over child safety.
- The law bans features such as infinite scrolling and algorithmic autoplay, with the state attorney general authorized to define additional regulations. Platforms must also provide users under 16 the option to disable personalized, non-algorithmic feeds.
- Tech industry groups like TechNet and The Electronic Frontier Foundation opposed the measure, warning it could restrict online access and prompt intrusive age-verification systems. Industry advocates argue regulators should enforce existing laws instead.
- Newsom defended the approach, stating California's strategy is 'better' than Australia's because it targets specific product engineering rather than a broad ban. The state is also advancing measures involving artificial intelligence chatbots and youth digital privacy.
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New California social media laws target addictive features
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed a host of new laws aimed at protecting children from online risks, particularly social media platforms. The 13 new laws aim to ensure greater online privacy for minors and include restrictions on addictive social media features for users under 16. BREAKING: I just signed the strongest kid safety laws for AI chatbots and social media in America.California is banning addictive social media featur…
Newsom signs new laws to protect kids from social media and AI chatbots
By CBS Bay Area California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a sweeping package of laws Thursday to protect children from the risks of technology, including social media and AI chatbots. The laws will penalize large social media companies up to $1 million per child if they are found negligent of harming children through their platforms. It also
Gavin Newsom says state 'will not stand by while unregulated technology puts our children at risk'
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation banning children under 16 from accessing addictive features on social media and banning toys that include AI chatbots as playmates.
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