New California social media laws target addictive features

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed 13 new laws on Thursday to protect children from online risks, particularly on social media platforms. The legislation aims to enhance minors' online privacy and imposes restrictions on addictive features for users under 16. These measures ban platforms from exposing children to potentially harmful features, such as infinite scrolling, algorithmic recommendations, and autoplay.

Another law prescribes criminal penalties for digitally altered or AI-generated content depicting minors in sexual situations. To limit AI chatbots, one law requires parental controls for chatbot programs, while another prohibits toys with AI chatbots. Newsom emphasized that California's approach is more targeted than Australia's social media ban for under-16s, focusing on addressing the technology behind addictive use rather than age alone.

Australia's ban, however, has reportedly been ineffective in preventing children and teenagers from accessing and using social media. California's new measures position it as one of several US states tightening rules on technology companies regarding children's online safety and mental health. Major tech companies, including Meta, have pledged to implement these measures.

The European Union is also considering limits on children's access to social media, with proposals ranging from restrictions for under-13s to a broader ban for under-15s, a stance supported by France.