Golden State Today

California's landmark child online safety law, Senate Bill (SB) 976, is set to take effect on January 1, 2025. This follows a decision by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, which largely denied Big Tech's attempt to prevent its implementation. SB 976, known as the "Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act," aims to curb social media companies' use of addictive algorithmic features designed to engage children and teens for extended periods.

Attorney General Rob Bonta expressed his satisfaction with the court's decision: "There is mounting evidence showing the devastating toll that social media addiction can have on our children's mental health and well-being. This addiction is not an accident; it is fed by algorithms deployed by Big Tech." He emphasized that the law empowers young people to choose how they interact with social media rather than being manipulated by profit-driven tactics.

Despite upholding most of SB 976, the court blocked two provisions on free speech grounds. Attorney General Bonta argued against this aspect of the ruling, stating that no part of SB 976 regulates speech. The California Department of Justice plans to continue defending the statute vigorously in court.

The legislation has received bipartisan support and backing from teachers, public health professionals, and parents in California.