{"id":189392,"date":"2026-02-23T00:46:30","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T00:46:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/189392\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T00:46:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T00:46:30","slug":"california-gov-gavin-newsom-backs-social-media-age-limits-bill-for-teens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/189392\/","title":{"rendered":"California Gov. Gavin Newsom backs social media age limits bill for teens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n

California Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/a> entered the battle over social media age limits for kids under 16 on Thursday, stating “it\u2019s long overdue.”<\/p>\n

Newsom shared his thoughts on the issue during a news conference regarding public transportation in the Bay Area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He shared his own experience as a father, recalling a recent incident where he confronted his daughter and her friends at a birthday party.<\/p>\n

“I literally stopped everybody because there were seven of them together on their cellphone at the birthday party, not one of them talking to each other,” Newsom told reporters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"Gavin <\/p>\n

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has entered the battle over social media age limits for kids. (Tayfun Coskun\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Seven members of the California State Assembly introduced a\u00a0bipartisan bill<\/a> this month to establish a minimum age requirement to “open or maintain a social media account<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s long overdue that we\u2019re having the debate we\u2019re having now in the legislature, and I\u2019m very grateful the legislature is taking this very seriously,” Newsom said.<\/p>\n

The bill doesn\u2019t clarify a cutoff age.<\/p>\n

The bill cites preexisting laws that “impose various requirements on social media platforms,” including things such as requiring platforms to post terms of service, “disclose threat reporting procedures and maintain a law enforcement contact process.”<\/p>\n

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\"Gavin <\/p>\n

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks on social media usage for teens during a press conference on Thursday. (Governor Gavin Newsom via YouTube)<\/p>\n

Newsom also stated he recently met with leaders at the Munich Security Conference<\/a> and World Economic Forum in Switzerland concerning social media.<\/p>\n

“I was overseas to meet with Prime Minister Sanchez of Spain, who\u2019s also moving in this direction. We had a direct conversation about this. I also met with the Vice Premier of Australia,” Newsom said.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s something that I\u2019m very grateful that we are debating and pursuing at the state level,” Newsom continued.<\/p>\n

Newsom later confirmed to Politico<\/a> that he wants state legislation<\/a> that would restrict access to online platforms for individuals under 16.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos said the governor supports “age-gating rules,” inspired by rules that took effect in Australia.<\/p>\n

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\"A <\/p>\n

Newsom wants state legislation that would restrict access to online platforms for kids under 16. (Anna Barclay\/Getty)<\/p>\n

He doubled down in a social media post<\/a> Saturday, saying, “Bad news for child predators: they\u2019ll soon lose access to kids on the platforms they use to groom them,” while taking a swipe at President Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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“As a parent, we need help,” Newsom said Thursday. “We have a generation that\u2019s never been more anxious, less free, more stressed and we have to address this issue.”<\/p>\n

Newsom’s office and the White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n