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The California Assembly advanced a measure Thursday, May 28, 2026, to place a limit on children creating social media accounts. <\/p>\n
Dreamstime<\/p>\n
Dreamstime\/TNS<\/p>\n
The California Assembly on Thursday overwhelming voted in favor of a bill that would prohibit children under 16 years old from having a social media account, setting up what is likely to continue to be a tough battle over the coming months.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook around the room everybody \u2014 we\u2019re making history,\u201d said the bill\u2019s author, Speaker pro Tem Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, before the vote.<\/p>\n
The measure, which now goes to the Senate, is just one in a series of efforts by California legislators, and those in other states, to place restrictions on social media companies and their platforms. The businesses have faced increased scrutiny from politicians and in courtrooms in the face of rising rates of depression and suicide among young people.<\/p>\n
Assembly Bill 1709<\/a> would allow the California attorney general to adopt regulations and to bring lawsuits against any company that \u201coffers users or provides users with an addictive feed as a significant part of the service provided by that internet website, online service, online application, or mobile application.\u201d<\/p>\n Support for the bill was bipartisan. Assemblymember David Tangipa, R-Clovis, who previously voted against the measure out of concerns about the role of government regulation, said he changed his mind after talking with Lowenthal earlier in the week.<\/p>\n \u201cI think about my nieces and nephews going through this,\u201d Tangipa said.<\/p>\n Other legislators invoked their children when urging their colleagues to vote in favor of the measure.<\/p>\n \u201cYoung minds are just not equipped to deal with these predatory practices,\u201d said Assemblymember Diane Papan, D-San Mateo. \u201cBy cutting this off at a certain age, I think we are going to the heart of the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n The action would follow Australia, which banned children under 16 years old from having social media accounts, the first such national limit. But legislators will need to clear significant hurdles to get there.<\/p>\n Opposition from industry, civil liberty groups<\/p>\n The bill has faced opposition from civil liberty and LGBTQ+ groups as well as trade groups representing social media companies including Meta, TikTok and Snap Inc. Groups raised First Amendment concerns and also said it could jeopardize the well-being of young people who find safety and community in online spaces.<\/p>\n \u201cOur members are committed to being a part of the solution to improving youth mental health in California and beyond, which is why they continuously update safety features to protect young people online,\u201d said Robert Boykin, a lobbyist for TechNet, one of the technology groups opposing the bill. \u201cWith that in mind, we urge the Legislature to consider more targeted, evidence-based approaches that focus on specific risks, strengthen parental control tools and preserve privacy while supporting youth well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo matter how many times the California Legislature rehashes their unconstitutional policy prescriptions, they can\u2019t seem to follow the First Amendment,\u201d said Zach Lilly, a director of government affairs for NetChoice, one of the technology trade groups opposing the bill.<\/p>\n Fierce lobbying against the bill is likely to ramp up as the bill works through the Senate. The Legislature has until Aug. 31 to pass the measure, and it would then go to Gov. Gavin Newsom.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m extremely bullish on the bill\u2019s chances,\u201d Lowenthal said in an interview after the vote. \u201cThere doesn\u2019t seem to be two sides to this when it comes to the citizens of California.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 2:46 PM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n
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