Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement today following the signing of Senate Bill 976 (SB 976) into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), SB 976, also known as the Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act, aims to restrict social media companies and other website operators from using addictive algorithmic feeds, notifications, and design features that encourage prolonged use by children and teens. The new law mandates parental consent for these features, enabling families to establish healthy boundaries around children's social media usage.

"Kids use the internet to find community and learn about themselves and the world. We must protect their ability to do this safely," said Attorney General Rob Bonta. "Social media companies have shown us time and time again that for profit, they are willing to use addictive design features, including algorithmic feeds and notifications at all hours of the day and night, to target children and teens. SB 976 changes this and puts families in control."

Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), author of SB 976, stated: "Social media companies have designed their platforms to addict users, especially our kids. Studies show that once a young person has a social media addiction, they experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and suicide. But social media companies have been unwilling to voluntarily change their practices. With the passage of SB 976, the California Legislature has sent a clear message: When social media companies won’t act, it’s our responsibility to protect our kids."

SB 976 provides parents and guardians with the option of whether users under age 18 receive an algorithmically determined feed on social media platforms and other websites. The law does not restrict content; young users can still search for content, follow or block specific sources, and see a chronological feed of posts. Algorithmic feeds can be addictive, with heavy social media use linked to mental health issues among young users. Some social media platforms are designed in ways that contribute to social isolation and loneliness during critical brain development periods.

The legislation prohibits sending notifications between midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless parental consent is given for users under age 18.

The Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act also requires platforms to allow parents or guardians to:

- Prevent notifications during specific hours such as school or homework times.

- Limit access to addictive feeds per day as determined by parents or guardians.

- Restrict visibility of likes and engagement metrics contributing to addiction.

- Select private mode where only connections can view or respond.

- Choose non-recommended feeds based on collected information from the child.

Most safeguards outlined in SB 976 will be enabled by default.

The text of the legislation is available here.

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