Google, Meta, TikTok Sue to Block California Teen Social Media Law
The Facts
- Google, Meta and TikTok filed separate federal lawsuits Wednesday seeking to block California's Assembly Bill 1709, a law barring social media platforms from offering "addictive features" to users under 16.
- AB 1709 prohibits covered platforms from giving under-16 users personalized feeds or autoplay, and requires deletion of their accounts unless those features are removed. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation on Sept. 10, with it taking effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
- The measure sets penalties of up to $50,000 per affected minor for knowing violations and $25,000 for negligent ones. Google sued in San Jose, Meta in San Francisco and TikTok in Los Angeles.
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The Spin
Pro-industry narrative
Deciding what content to show and in what order is editorial judgment protected under the First Amendment. Families already have screen-time limits, parental controls and non-personalized feed options, leaving platform control to parents instead of Californian bureaucrats. Another doomed speech law only burns money in court while undermining basic civil liberties.
Industry-critical narrative
Addictive feeds engineered to hook kids are a business model, and no constitutional cover should shield such harmful features. Court after court has rejected the claim that the First Amendment blocks common-sense safety rules for minors, meaning that platforms must stop stalling and finally implement a safe online experience for America's youth.
