{"id":240169,"date":"2026-03-28T01:42:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T01:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/240169\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T01:42:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T01:42:18","slug":"california-weighs-age-limits-oversight-as-landmark-social-media-court-cases-side-with-users-in-california-new-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/240169\/","title":{"rendered":"California weighs age limits, oversight, as landmark social media court cases side with users in California, New Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"

Legislators and tech experts are hopeful the back-to-back jury trials can restructure how tech giants are held accountable for harmful social media usage by youth<\/p>\n

SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2014 Back-to-back court rulings against Meta and Google are offering California legislators hope as they continue to push for tighter regulations on social media companies, and as officials weigh how to protect users while preserving technological innovation.<\/p>\n

The decisions are being described as a potential turning point for the tech industry, with some comparing the moment to \u201cBig Tobacco\u201d as social media giants face increasing accountability for harm linked to their platforms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese platforms have a duty of care,\u201d Democratic Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal of Long Beach said. \u201cThey need to live up to the standards in order for our products to be out in the marketplace safely for our kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

California leaders say the rulings could significantly shift how Silicon Valley companies are held responsible.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy to see it, and I think it establishes a trend,\u201d Democratic state Sen. Steve Padilla of San Diego said. \u201cAnd I think it would apply very much nationwide.\u201d<\/p>\n

In one case, a jury in New Mexico found Meta \u2014 the parent company of Instagram and Facebook \u2014 liable for failing to protect young users from online child predators and for misleading consumers about platform safety. The company was ordered to pay $375 million for violating state law.<\/p>\n

Just a day after in California, a jury found Meta and Google \u2014 the parent company of YouTube \u2014 responsible for the mental health struggles of a 20-year-old woman who had used social media since age 6. She was awarded $6 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo for them, it\u2019s in their best interest to make these platforms not only appealing, but desirable or some would even use the word addictive to bring more viewership and ad revenue,\u201d Matthew Smith, a tech expert from the company Grapevine MSP, said. “From a business model it makes sense. But when you\u2019re looking at it from a morality perspective?\u201d<\/p>\n

Both companies have said they will appeal the rulings.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re not leaning into their moment,\u201d Lowenthal said in response to the continued pushback. \u201cThey need to have an inflection period.\u201d<\/p>\n

California, which is home to more than 60% of the world\u2019s top artificial intelligence companies, has been at the forefront of efforts to increase online safety. The state has recently clashed with the federal government over authority to regulate AI.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen cars came out, it was really essential that we had stoplights, lanes. Without them, nobody would drive, because it would be chaos and totally unsafe,\u201d Democratic Sen. Christopher Cabaldon on the need for basic online regulations, said.<\/p>\n

Cabaldon added, \u201cThe algorithms, the operations, what, the things, the services feeding you to addict you or polarize you, that is subject to law.\u201d<\/p>\n

One proposal gaining traction \u2014 including support from Gov. Gavin Newsom \u2014 would set a minimum age of 16 to create a social media account, modeled after a ban in Australia.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s healthy, based on brain development at a given age. What\u2019s appropriate, just like the way we look at driving or drinking,\u201d Lowenthal, author of the bipartisan bill AB1790, said.<\/p>\n

Lowenthal is also backing a bill — AB1700 — that would create an e-safety commission, a central watchdog entity for social media that would help with age verification.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need help. We have a generation that\u2019s never been more anxious, less free,\u201d Newsom said when asked about the “age-gating efforts” during an unrelated press conference in February. \u201cIt\u2019s long overdue that we\u2019re having the debate we\u2019re now having in the Legislature. And I\u2019m very grateful the Legislature is taking this very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newsom commended<\/a> the rulings out of New Mexico and California, writing on the social media platform X, “Big Tech is finally answering for the harm it has caused our children \u2014 after years of fighting against common sense regulations, today’s verdict shows that they can’t escape accountability. California isn’t backing down. We’ve enacted the nation\u2019s strongest protections, and we’ll keep holding companies accountable if they put profit over the lives and well-being of children.”<\/p>\n

California Attorney General Rob Bonta<\/a> also applauded the rulings, writing on X, “Juries in Los Angeles and New Mexico have found Meta responsible for what we at CA DOJ know to be true: Meta is prioritizing profits over the safety of children and violating consumer protection laws… CA DOJ looks forward to holding Meta accountable in our own upcoming August trial in the Bay Area.”<\/p>\n

That ongoing lawsuit is part of a multistate effort alleging Meta intentionally designed addictive social media features harmful for young users.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is state-led lawsuit is separate from the more than 1,000 suits filed by a large group of individual plaintiffs in California’s state court over harmful platform features. One of those cases was the ruling out of California, K.G.M. v. Meta et al.<\/p>\n

Still, experts warn that age verification systems could require users to share more personal information and may be difficult to enforce.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere does the responsibility and accountability lie? Is it with the parents or with the platform?\u201d Smith said, noting the complexities of the debate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of these systems get put in place, and day 1, people are finding ways around them. Especially kids, they\u2019re crafty,” Smith warned, emphasizing the implementation of such well-intentioned bills could make or break the success.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both bills will be discussed in the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, as the debate over how to regulate social media continues.<\/p>\n

Watch more from ABC10: President signs order to pay TSA workers amid DHS funding standoff<\/a><\/p>\n


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