Google, Meta and TikTok sue California over law on children's social media features
The companies want a court to block Assembly Bill 1709, which targets features that can lead children under 16 to compulsive use.
Key facts
Story- Google, Meta and TikTok have sued California to block Assembly Bill 1709.
- The law bans features such as personal recommendations and autoplay for children under 16.
- It also requires deletion of children's accounts that use those features, if it takes effect.
Google, Meta and TikTok have sued California to stop a new state law meant to protect children from addictive social media use. The law, known as Assembly Bill 1709, would take effect next year if it is not blocked.
The law bars social media platforms from offering minors what it calls "psychologically exploitative features". These include personal recommendations and autoplay, which plays videos one after another. The law says such features can lead to compulsive use. It applies to children under 16. Platforms would also have to delete the accounts of children who use those features.
The companies argue against the law in court. The companies' full legal arguments are not yet known.
Concern about teen addiction
The law is aimed at the risk of young people becoming addicted to social media. Its supporters see the features it names as the main drivers of long, repeated use. Under the law, a platform that keeps those features in place for children would be in breach.
The lawsuit places three of the largest social media and video companies against the state. Google owns YouTube, Meta runs Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok is a short-video app.
What happens next
The court has not yet ruled on the request to block the law. It is not yet known when a decision will come. It is not yet known how California's attorney general has responded to the suit.
Worth your time?
One tap helps idly bring you more of what matters.
Advertisement
