California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an expansive package of 13 bills on September 10, 2026, aimed at fundamentally restructuring how social media platforms and artificial intelligence companies interact with minors. The legislative sweep introduces some of the nation’s strictest enforcement mechanisms, including individual penalties reaching $1 million per child.
The new regulations focus heavily on curtailing “addictive” design patterns and the perceived psychological risks of AI-powered companions. The signing comes just weeks after Meta reached an $18 billion settlement with California and 28 other states over allegations involving child safety and mental health impacts on its platforms.
Curbing Infinite Scroll and Algorithmic Feeds
A central piece of the package, Assembly Bill 1709, prohibits social media companies from serving “addictive features” to users under the age of 16 without explicit parental consent. This includes technical staples of modern social media such as infinite scrolling and autoplay videos. By targeting these specific engagement tools, the state aims to reduce the time minors spend on platforms by disrupting the feedback loops that keep them scrolling.
The law has faced pushback from digital rights advocates and industry groups. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) urged a veto of the bill, arguing that the definition of “addictive features” is broad enough to act as a de facto ban on social media for youth, potentially infringing on free speech rights.
‘Adam’s Law’ and AI Chatbot Restrictions
The package also contains pioneering regulations for artificial intelligence. Senate Bill 1119, known as “Adam’s Law,” is named in memory of Adam Raine, a teenager who died by suicide in 2025 following interactions with an AI chatbot. According to California State Senator Steve Padilla, the law requires chatbot operators to conduct mandatory risk assessments regarding the impact of their technology on minor users.
Technically, SB 1119 requires that “persistent conversational memory”—the feature that allows an AI to remember personal details across multiple sessions—be disabled by default for minors. This is intended to prevent the formation of parasocial relationships between children and digital entities. Furthermore, Senate Bill 867 establishes a four-year moratorium on the manufacturing or sale of physical toys equipped with AI companion chatbots intended for children under 16.
Enforcement and Financial Penalties
The 13-bill package shifts the burden of proof to technology companies to demonstrate they are not harming minors. Under the new framework, social media companies found negligent in protecting children from harmful content or addictive design could face civil penalties of up to $1 million per affected child.
The Office of Governor Gavin Newsom stated that these measures are intended to provide parents with more control over their children’s digital lives.
