Three of the biggest social media companies want to block a California law designed to reduce youth social media addiction from going into law.
On Wednesday, Google, Meta, and TikTok each filed lawsuits against California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2027, the bill (AB 1709) would prohibit platforms including Google, Meta, and TikTok from providing “an addictive feature” to users under 16. The law describes such features as “psychologically exploitative” and intended to maximize engagement in a way that leads to compulsive use. This includes infinite scroll, autoplay, and an “addictive” feed.
The law also requires platforms to “implement reasonable measures” so that young users aren’t offered such features.
