California enacts new curbs on social media for children

Key Points:

• California Governor Gavin Newsom signed new laws restricting children under 16 from exposure to behaviorally addictive social media features and banning AI chatbot companion toys, as part of a 13-bill package aimed at protecting youth from harmful technology.
• The legislation, including "Adam's Law" named after a teenager who died by suicide after interactions with ChatGPT, expands criminal sanctions to cover AI-generated child sexual abuse material and mandates parental controls on chatbot programs.
• These measures mark some of the strictest tech regulations in the U.S. and come amid growing bipartisan support to address the mental health risks posed by social media, though some critics warn of privacy and free speech concerns.
• California joins other states like Utah and New York in regulating children's social media use, targeting features such as infinite scroll and autoplay that encourage compulsive engagement.
• The new laws coincide with broader industry shifts, including Meta's $18 billion settlement to limit teen use of Facebook and Instagram, reflecting increased willingness by Big Tech to accept regulatory constraints.