California bill to limit social media access for children under 16 gains traction in the legislature

Bill gains traction

AB 1709 is moving through California’s Legislature after advancing through committees and being referred to the Appropriations Committee, where it remains under consideration.

The proposal would bar users under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts on covered platforms, while requiring companies to take steps to prevent access to and continued use of accounts.

What AB 1709 proposes

AB 1709 applies to covered platforms and would prohibit those services from allowing users under 16 to create or maintain social media accounts statewide under proposed California rules.

The bill also requires platforms to take reasonable measures to prevent underage access, placing responsibility for enforcement and compliance directly on the companies involved under the proposal.

The author behind it

Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal of Long Beach introduced AB 1709 and is listed as the official author of the bill in Assembly records within the current public state legislative filings.

The measure must still pass additional legislative stages, including committee review, floor votes, and possible amendments, before reaching final action in the state legislative process, where it remains pending.

New responsibilities for companies

Covered platforms would be required to take reasonable measures to prevent users under 16 from accessing or using accounts if the proposal is enacted into law.

The bill would also require companies to verify user age and remove underage accounts, along with any associated personal information held by platforms under the proposed requirements.

Why supporters feel urgency

Supporters state that social media design features can contribute to compulsive use, anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and reduced attention among younger users overall, according to supporters’ perspective claims and concerns.

They argue the bill is needed to reduce these risks by requiring companies to address how their platforms affect children, according to supporters’ reasoning and policy intent stated in the overall perspective.

A mother speaks

At a committee hearing, Victoria Hinks testified about the loss of her daughter, Alexandra, and described social media harms affecting her family in detail during the session proceedings there as well.

Her testimony gave lawmakers a personal example of potential risks, adding context to debates about youth platform safety and informing ongoing discussions among policymakers in the hearing at the time.

Lowenthal explains intent

Josh Lowenthal said the bill is intended to hold technology companies accountable for how their platforms are designed for users during the committee hearing, as he outlined its purpose clearly.

He said the proposal focuses on protecting youth development and well-being by addressing risks tied to engagement features within digital platforms as part of the legislation being discussed there overall.

Fun fact: Social media began with SixDegrees.com in 1997, which let users create profiles, connect with friends, and message privately online safely.

Legal responsibilities and enforcement for platforms

The proposal would apply to covered platforms, which would need to follow the new age-protection requirements if the bill becomes law.

Enforcement would be handled through civil action brought only by the Attorney General or a local public prosecutor, and companies would also be required to delete accounts held by users under 16 and related personal information.

Little-known fact: More than 3.2 billion images and 720,000 hours of video are shared on social media every day by users worldwide.

Bipartisan support emerges

The proposal has received bipartisan support in the California Legislature, with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers backing the measure during consideration of the bill in legislative sessions at the time.

That support reflects shared concern about youth access to social media and platform design practices affecting minors, as discussed by lawmakers during debate on the proposal in legislative discussions overall.

Newsom shows openness

Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed support for the idea of social media age restrictions and called the debate overdue in public statements addressing the issue recently and broadly across discussions.

His position signals openness to measures like AB 1709, though the bill still requires full legislative approval before it can become law through the established legislative process as currently proposed.

Opposition organizes

Technology industry groups and several organizations oppose AB 1709, citing concerns about privacy, speech, and enforcement challenges raised during discussions surrounding the proposal and its potential impact overall.

Critics argue the proposal could create legal disputes and technical burdens for companies operating online platforms as they respond to the requirements set out in the proposed legislation under review.

Civil liberties concerns

ACLU California Action said broad restrictions for users under 16 could limit access to communication and community spaces in practice, according to its statement on the proposal.

The group also raised concerns about privacy and free speech involving how minors participate online daily in their public statement regarding the proposal and its potential effects overall.

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How California compares

California would not be the first U.S. state to pursue youth social media limits, because Florida has already passed a law restricting account access for minors.

Florida bars children under 14 from holding social media accounts, while 14 and 15-year-olds need parental consent, with litigation over enforcement continuing.

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What stands out more in California, the proposed restriction on social media access for users under 16, or the broader debate over youth safety, platform responsibility, privacy concerns, and free speech in the digital age? Share your thoughts.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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