California Governor Advocates for Social Media Age Restrictions

California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke out on Thursday, advocating for age restrictions on social media platforms for children under 16, calling it “long overdue.”

This statement came during a press conference about public transportation in the Bay Area, where he shared a personal experience related to the issue. He recounted a moment at a birthday party where he noticed several kids, including his daughter, engrossed in their phones instead of interacting with one another. “There were seven people at a birthday party on their cell phones together, and no one was talking, so I literally stopped everyone,” he explained to reporters.

Newsom also highlighted a bipartisan bill currently in the California State Assembly, which will set minimum age requirements for creating or maintaining social media accounts. “This discussion in Congress has been long overdue, and I’m really thankful that Congress is taking this seriously,” he added, although the bill does not specify an exact age limit.

The proposed legislation aims to strengthen existing laws that hold social media platforms accountable. This includes requiring them to publicly share their terms of service and maintain proper procedures for reporting threats.

In addition, Newsom mentioned his discussions with leaders from various countries, including Spain and Australia, at the Munich Security Conference and the World Economic Forum. He reflected that collaboration at the state level is encouraging and essential.

His spokesperson confirmed that Newsom supports introducing age-limit rules similar to those recently enacted in Australia, which restrict access for individuals under 16.

Interestingly, a poll revealed that nearly two-thirds of American voters favor banning social media for children under 16, indicating widespread support for this kind of regulation.

“As parents, we need help,” Newsom emphasized. He expressed concerns for the current generation, which he believes faces higher levels of anxiety and stress than ever before. Newsom’s office, along with the White House, did not provide immediate comments for further insights on the situation.