Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a sweeping package of 13 bills aimed at shielding children from the darker corners of social media and artificial intelligence, marking one of the most aggressive state efforts yet to regulate how tech companies interact with young users.
Among the most closely watched of the new laws is a measure that will require social media platforms to strip away so-called “addictive” design features — such as infinite scroll and autoplay — for users under 16, or bar those younger users from their platforms altogether. Supporters say the law targets a teen mental health crisis that has only worsened as social media companies have refused to change their business models voluntarily.
“Parents can’t compete. Can’t compete with the engineering, can’t compete with the algorithms,” Newsom said during a press conference announcing the new laws. “You feel like you’re a lousy parent.”
Not everyone is on board, however. Digital rights advocates, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, had urged Newsom to reject the bill, warning that its definition of “addictive features” is so broad that it could amount to an outright ban on social media for anyone under 16 — cutting teenagers off from information and online communities that can be genuinely valuable.
A second major law drew a far more favorable reception, even from the tech industry. Named in honor of Adam Raine, a California teenager who died by suicide in 2025 after ChatGPT allegedly provided him with self-harm guidance, the new statute sets time limits for minors using AI chatbots and requires that mental health resources be built directly into the technology. Companies will also need to develop formal safety plans, and if a chatbot detects signs that a user may be in danger of self-harm, the operator must notify the minor’s parents. Firms such as OpenAI could now face legal consequences if they fail to respond appropriately to warning signs.
“Raising teens at this moment, those of us that are, we know the youth mental health crisis is an everyday reality,” said Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, one of the bill’s authors. “There isn’t one of us that hasn’t seen it firsthand.”
OpenAI, notably, expressed support for the measure, stating that it “pairs strong protections with continued access to useful AI tools.” The law adds to a growing body of California regulations on AI chatbots, including existing rules requiring companies to disclose when users are conversing with a machine rather than a person.
Several other bills rounded out the package. One opens the door for social media companies to be held financially liable if their platforms cause harm to a child. Another strengthens and updates age-verification requirements across digital platforms. A third expands companies’ legal obligations to detect and act on child exploitation material. Yet another law imposes a four-year moratorium on AI-equipped chatbot toys marketed to children under 16.
The governor had already signed related legislation earlier in the week establishing standards for independent auditors who evaluate AI systems, along with a law clarifying that companies offering products likely to be used by children cannot require kids to hand over personal data simply to access their services.
The flurry of new laws arrives amid escalating alarm over the toll social media and AI technology are taking on young people’s mental health. Raine’s death was one of several recent cases that have shaken parents’ confidence in chatbot safety, with growing reports of so-called “AI psychosis” — instances in which chatbot interactions appear to reinforce delusional or harmful thinking, a phenomenon not limited to teenagers.
The legislative push also follows a landmark legal settlement between Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and a coalition of state attorneys general, including California’s Rob Bonta. That lawsuit accused Meta of deliberately designing addictive features — like infinite scrolling — despite internal knowledge that they were harming teens’ mental health, a case frequently likened to the tobacco industry litigation of decades past.
As that trial got underway last month, Meta agreed to pay up to $17 billion to resolve the claims. A portion of that settlement will go toward addressing youth mental health issues, while states will determine how the remaining funds are allocated. As part of the deal, Meta also agreed to make product changes for younger users, including limiting “likes” on accounts belonging to minors and halting notifications during school hours.
Original source: CalMatters
