The Overview
If you're a parent of a teen in California, the apps on their phone just got a new legal limit. California's AB 1709, a bill on age restrictions for covered platforms that limits addictive social media features for users under 16, was approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Sept. 10.
What the Law Does
The law prohibits covered platforms from offering "addictive features" to users under 16 and requires platforms to put reasonable measures in place to keep those features away from younger users. The California Attorney General can adopt rules to expand which platforms count as "covered" and can pursue civil penalties against platforms that don't comply, as can local public prosecutors.
The law also creates the e-Safety Advisory Commission inside the state Department of Justice as an independent advisory body, required to report to the Legislature and the Governor by Jan. 1 each year on online safety activities.
Legislative Status
Asm. Josh Lowenthal (D-CA-69) sponsored the bill, with 47 co-authors, including Sen. Henry Stern (D-CA-27), Asm. Joshua Hoover (R-CA-7), Asm. Joe Patterson (R-CA-5), Asm. Leticia Castillo (R-CA-58) and Asm. Buffy Wicks (D-CA-14), and 42 others.
The full Assembly passed the bill May 28, 76 to 0. The Senate passed it Aug. 31, 39 to 0, and the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments the same day, 78 to 0.
Lowenthal said at the signing, "Today, all of us are saying the same thing. We're saying [that] we don't have to take it anymore, and families in the state of California, you don't have to take it anymore," according to FOX 40. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and allies said in a statement that the law "falls far short" of supporting and empowering young people, according to the EFF.
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