California Governor Enacts Groundbreaking Legislation on Youth Engagement with Social Media and AI Chatbots

California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, has officially enacted a series of laws designed to protect minors. These regulations focus on limiting certain engaging features of social media platforms and setting restrictions on how young users interact with AI chatbots.

The newly introduced rules will regulate teenage interactions with AI chatbots, imposing time limits and mandating the integration of mental health resources. Chatbot developers must have safety protocols in place, particularly if a minor mentions self-harm, and will need to notify parents if children disable safety features. In addition, these companies will now have to undergo independent safety audits and annual assessments. Failure to comply may result in legal repercussions for AI businesses. This move follows recent legislation that establishes broader oversight measures for AI company compliance within California.

Among the more controversial regulations prohibits social media platforms from allowing individuals under 16 to access certain potentially addictive features. The legislation defines “addictive” broadly, encompassing elements like autoplay videos, notifications, and personalized content feeds driven by algorithms.

Critics, including representatives of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, argue that this effectively bans social media for teenagers. EFF Associate Director of State Affairs, Rindala Alajaji, commented that restricting minors from digital platforms—or removing essential tools for using them—will not enhance safety or well-being in this era of AI. The organization further warned that enforcing this regulation could necessitate social media users disclosing more personal information for age verification, raising additional privacy concerns. This is a point of contention for many who oppose various age verification initiatives.

In addition, Newsom enacted other measures aimed at shielding youth from potential dangers associated with technology. These include an updated definition of child sexual exploitation that now covers images created or modified by generative AI. Another law introduces enhanced restrictions on targeted advertising and focuses on how AI systems use data collected from K-12 students.