California Governor Signs Landmark Law Banning Addictive Social Media Features for Minors
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed landmark legislation banning addictive social media features for minors. Dubbed Adam's Law, the package also restricts AI toys and chatbot interactions.
California Governor Signs Landmark Law to Protect Minors Online
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a sweeping new law banning tech companies from exposing children under 16 to addictive social media features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay videos. The legislation is part of a broader package of 13 bills aimed at curbing the exposure of young people to potentially harmful technology. This legislative push comes amid ongoing legal proceedings in the USA against tech giants including Meta and TikTok, which face accusations of designing social platforms that foster addiction.
Recently, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion as part of a settlement agreement in a massive lawsuit brought by 29 US states. The states alleged that the company violated the privacy of young users and integrated addictive features into its platforms. Another measure included in the newly signed package expands criminal sanctions for publishing images of children in a sexual context, extending penalties to cases involving digitally altered or AI-generated content. A separate provision imposes a four-year ban on the production and sale of toys incorporating AI chatbots, while another mandates parental control integration in chatbot software.
The Tragedy Behind 'Adam’s Law'
The legislative package has been dubbed "Adam’s Law" in memory of Adam Rain, a 16-year-old boy who tragically took his life in April 2025. According to his parents, his actions were influenced by suicidal thoughts that were reinforced and validated during months of conversations with OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot. OpenAI responded by stating its intention to improve ChatGPT’s safeguarding mechanisms, acknowledging that they become less reliable as user interactions grow longer.
"We want our children – and every child in California – to grow up in a world where technology supports their personal well-being instead of exploiting their vulnerabilities," said Governor Newsom during the announcement.
California, home to tech giants such as Google, Meta, and Snap, joins a growing number of US states cracking down on social media platforms. Utah was the first state to regulate children's access to social networks, followed by Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Florida, and New York. International jurisdictions, including Australia, have also introduced strict limitations on children's use of social media.
