Newsom says he will sign bill banning addictive social media features for under 16s

In short: California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will sign AB 1709, a bill that would stop social media apps from using certain “addictive features” for users under 16.

What happened

California’s Legislature has passed Assembly Bill 1709 and sent it to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom has publicly committed to signing it, according to reporting on September 10, 2026.

If it takes effect, AB 1709 would ban social media platforms from providing “addictive features” to anyone under 16. The bill lists examples like endless scroll, autoplaying videos, and some types of notifications. It also targets algorithmic or personalized feeds, meaning a feed picked by a computer system that tries to guess what you will watch next (like a clerk who keeps handing you items they think you cannot resist).

The bill goes further than earlier California rules. It would apply even if a parent agrees, and it would push companies to offer a separate, less sticky version for teens.

Why it matters

AB 1709 could change what California teens see when they open popular apps. If a company cannot realistically offer a version without the banned features, the bill says it must delete accounts for users under 16 and erase their personal data.

To do this, platforms would need to verify each user’s age. That raises privacy and free speech concerns for some civil liberties groups, who worry that age checks could lead to more data collection. The bill includes penalties that can reach $50,000 per affected minor for knowing violations, and it gives enforcement power to the California Attorney General and local prosecutors.

Source: NYTimes