A new California bill would prohibit social media websites from sending users under 18 “addictive” material without the consent of a parent or guardian.
One of the bill’s key provisions would require social media companies to make a chronological feed the default setting on platforms, which would show users posts from people they follow in the order they are uploaded as opposed to arranging content in ways to maximize engagement.
Social media platforms would also be barred from sending minors notifications from midnight to 6 a.m. or 8 am. to 3 p.m. on school days without an adult’s consent.
The bill would also mandate that social media companies set a default one-hour time limit daily that the child’s parents or guardians could adjust, ensure the minor’s account is private and give the state attorney general “authority to set regulations to ensure compliance with all aspects of the bill,” according to a news release.
State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) introduced SB 976 on Monday during a press conference.
“Social media companies have designed their platforms to addict users, especially our kids. Countless studies show that once a young person has a social media addiction, they experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem,” Sen. Skinner said in a statement.
“We’ve waited long enough for social media companies to act. SB 976 is needed now to establish sensible guardrails so parents can protect their kids from these preventable harms.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta collaborated with Skinner on the legislation.
“SB 976 is landmark legislation that I am proudly sponsoring to better protect our children online,” Bonta said in a statement. “Social media companies are employing harmful platform features while misleading young users, their families, and the public about the addictive quality of those features. Enough is enough. It is everyone’s responsibility to protect our children.”
In October, California and 32 other states filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging the company designed Instagram and Facebook specifically to addict young users and repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its social media platforms, the Associated Press reported.
Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp.
Lawmakers behind the bill stated that New York is the only state with legislation similar to SB 976.