Tech Giants Challenge California Law Limiting Addictive Social Media Features for Kids
WHO:
TechCrunch - Meta, Google, and TikTok are challenging California’s law restricting social media access for children under 16.
NY Post - The companies say the law violates the First Amendment.
Los Angeles Times - Google, Meta, and TikTok filed separate lawsuits. Meta owns Instagram, Facebook, and Threads; Google owns YouTube.
Los Angeles Times - Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, a Democrat from Long Beach, introduced Assembly Bill 1709. A representative for California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the office was reviewing the litigation.
IJR - Google, Meta, and TikTok argue that AB 1709 violates free-speech protections and conflicts with federal law.
WHAT:
Deadline - Google, Meta, and TikTok sued California to block a law restricting social media platforms from offering “addictive” features to children under 16.
Los Angeles Times - AB 1709 bars social media sites from providing features such as autoplay and recommended-content displays to teenagers and young children.
Los Angeles Times - Meta’s lawsuit says the law would make the state “the editor, curator and controller of online speech” and override Meta’s editorial judgment over billions of third-party posts.
Los Angeles Times - TikTok argued that AB 1709 prevents platforms from providing “addictive features” even when parents consent, and said the company has restrictions to protect teens.
Los Angeles Times - TikTok’s example describes a parent linking an account through Family Pairing, setting a 30-minute daily screen limit, enabling Restricted Mode, and wanting to allow a personalized For You feed for a 15-year-old.
Los Angeles Times - The article reports that Meta agreed to pay up to $17 billion and make platform changes, including hiding likes and reactions, restricting extreme makeup filters for teens, setting a default two-hour daily limit that teens can disable only with parental permission, muting notifications during school hours, and blocking app access from midnight to 6 a.m. through a night mode.
Los Angeles Times - A Los Angeles jury found Instagram and YouTube responsible for the suffering of a 20-year-old woman who said she became hooked on the platforms in grade school; she was awarded $6 million in damages.
WHERE:
Los Angeles Times - Meta and Google/YouTube filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California; TikTok filed in the Central District of California.
Los Angeles Times - The woman awarded damages was from Chico, California.
WHEN:
No dates included because the articles’ stated dates are not future dates under the date rules.
WHY:
Los Angeles Times - Lowenthal said anxiety and depression among children who grew up using phones, tablets, and computers inspired him to seek stronger safeguards.
Los Angeles Times - Lowenthal called autoplay and similar features “harmful, full stop” and “not appropriate for the developing brain.”
Los Angeles Times - Industry groups argued the bill would hinder users’ ability to connect with family and friends.
IJR - California says the restrictions are needed to protect children from potentially addictive design.
HOW:
Los Angeles Times - The companies filed separate lawsuits and invoked First Amendment protections and the Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from lawsuits over third-party content.
Los Angeles Times - TikTok argued AB 1709 effectively overrides Senate Bill 976, which also restricts addictive feeds and certain features for minors without parental consent.
(UPDATED November 6, 2026 01:08 UTC)
Meta, Google, and TikTok sued California over restrictions on social media features for children. The law would block autoplay and recommended content for users under 16. The companies say it violates free speech; California says it protects children.