by Colin Lecher
California teens will be barred from “addictive” social media products and limited in their interactions with chatbots under two of 13 bills signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom to protect kids online.
The law targeting addictive social media features stands as perhaps the most controversial. It mandates that social media companies either discontinue offering “addictive” design tools—such as infinite scroll and autoplay—to users under 16, or bar those young users from their platforms completely. Proponents argue the legislation is vital for addressing a severe teenage mental health crisis, compelling social media companies to take action they have long avoided.
“Parents can’t compete. Can’t compete with the engineering, can’t compete with the algorithms,” Newsom stated during a press conference announcing the legislation.
Digital rights organizations, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, urged a veto, calling the bill “well-intentioned, but deeply flawed” because its broad definition of “addictive features” could effectively amount to a total social media ban for children under 16, cutting them off from essential information and experiences.
The measure limiting artificial intelligence chatbots received broader support, including backing from tech giant OpenAI. Named after California teenager Adam Raine—who died by suicide in 2025 after receiving tips from ChatGPT—the new law imposes time limits for minors interacting with AI chatbots, mandates built-in mental health resources, and requires safety plans. Should a chatbot detect a threat of self-harm, operators are required to alert parents. Creators like OpenAI could face legal liability if they fail to act.
The legislation follows increasing concern among parents and lawmakers about the ways children may form relationships with increasingly sophisticated AI systems. Raine’s death was among a series of incidents that raised questions about how chatbots respond when young users discuss emotional distress, self-harm or other potentially dangerous situations. California already requires chatbots to inform users that they are interacting with artificial intelligence rather than a human being.
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, one of the authors of the chatbot legislation, said the measures reflect concerns that families are confronting directly. She said parents raising teenagers are seeing the effects of the youth mental health crisis firsthand.
OpenAI noted that the legislation “pairs strong protections with continued access to useful AI tools”.
The package of 13 approved bills includes several other major tech and child-protection measures:
- One establishes legal liability for social media companies, making them liable for damages if their platforms harm a child.
- Another expands and revises age-checking requirements.
- A separate bill broadens corporate responsibilities for removing child abuse content.
- A four-year moratorium will be placed on AI-powered chatbot toys for kids under 16.
- Earlier in the week, Newsom signed bills setting standards for independent AI tool auditors and clarifying regulations for businesses operating products “likely to be accessed by children,” preventing them from forcing children to hand over data as a condition of use.
Taken together, the measures represent a significant expansion of California’s effort to regulate how technology companies design and operate products used by children. The laws focus not only on what young people can access online, but also on how platforms are designed to keep users engaged and how companies respond when their technology encounters potentially dangerous behavior.
The legislative push coincides with growing legal scrutiny over the mental health impacts of tech products on youth. In a major multi-state lawsuit, states accused Meta of knowingly damaging teens’ mental health through features like infinite scrolling. As the trial began, Meta agreed to a settlement of up to $17 billion, a portion of which is earmarked for youth mental health programs.
The settlement also requires Meta to alter its products by limiting “likes” for underage accounts and halting notifications during school hours.
Editor’s note: Edited for length with additional background information.
