California lawmakers are taking steps to protect children from the negative impacts of social media, addressing concerns raised by public health experts like U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy about the mental health crisis among young people. However, these efforts are likely to face legal challenges similar to those that have thwarted past attempts to regulate social media. The tech industry has successfully argued that imposing rules on platforms violates free speech rights.
Two bills currently in the California Legislature aim to reshape how minors use social media. One proposed by State Senator Nancy Skinner would require parental permission for push notifications to children during certain hours and restrict algorithm-driven feeds that keep children on their devices longer. The other bill, by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, aims to strengthen privacy protections by prohibiting businesses from collecting or sharing data on minors without consent.
These efforts have bipartisan support and the backing of the state Attorney General, Rob Bonta, who emphasized the need to protect children from online harms. California’s influence as the most populous state sets standards that are often adopted by others, and major tech companies headquartered in the state could be affected by these laws.
Despite the recognized harms of social media on children, previous attempts to regulate the industry have been blocked by legal challenges, citing potential violations of the First Amendment. While federal legislation has been slow to materialize, lawmakers are pushing for regulations to protect youth from the negative impacts of social media. By focusing proposals on consumer protection rather than speech restrictions, lawmakers hope to navigate legal challenges successfully and safeguard children from online harms.
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