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Gavin Newsom signs online child safety laws banning addictive social media features for users under 16

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of online child safety bills on Thursday, establishing some of the strongest protections for young users in the country. The legislation includes AB 1709, which bars social media platforms from using addictive engagement features like infinite scroll and autoplay for users under 16. The administration announced that these measures address the substantive engineering behind compulsive use rather than just age alone. The new laws also regulate AI companion chatbots, requiring operators to conduct risk assessments, provide parental controls, and include in-app crisis support. These regulations were named in honor of Adam Raine, a child who died by suicide after being coached by a chatbot. The package includes additional measures such as criminal sanctions for AI-generated sexual imagery of minors and a state registry for independent AI auditors. While some critics argue that the ban on addictive features may limit access to digital forums, the administration announced that the goal is to ensure technology supports children's wellbeing rather than exploiting their vulnerabilities.

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