California Governor Advocates for Social Media Restrictions for Teens

Governor Gavin Newsom recently proposed a ban on social media for teenagers, drawing from personal experiences with his daughter and her friend, who he described as being overly attached to their devices.

At a birthday celebration for his daughter, he noticed that among a small group, everyone was absorbed in their phones. “It was striking, really; no real conversation happening,” he remarked. It struck him as indicative of a larger issue. “Our generation is more anxious, less free and more stressed than ever before, and we must address this issue,” he insisted.

Newsom later confirmed his support for “age-restricted” rules that would prevent anyone under 16 from creating social media accounts.

A bipartisan coalition in California has introduced legislation to establish a minimum age requirement for social media use, though specifics on what that age would be remain undecided.

He cited countries like Spain as examples of progress in this arena, noting that Australia has already implemented laws restricting social media accounts for children under 16.

“I think this debate in Congress is long overdue, and I’m really glad that they’re treating it seriously,” he added, highlighting his experience as a father of four children aged 10 to 16, which has intensified his concerns about technology’s influence on youth.

Last year, he signed several bills focusing on online safety, including measures that mandate social media warning labels and impose stiffer penalties for “deepfake” content. Meanwhile, the conversation around social media addiction among younger demographics is gaining traction in legal settings.

In a related court case, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced scrutiny over social media’s effects on youth. The trial centered around a young plaintiff, referred to as KGM, who claims childhood addiction to social media led to severe mental health issues.

Meta refuted allegations suggesting that its platform is intentionally addictive. Addressing Instagram’s age restrictions, Zuckerberg acknowledged enforcement challenges, stating that many users may misrepresent their ages to gain access.

In contrast, Instagram’s chief Adam Mosseri, who testified recently, argued that misuse of technology should not be conflated with actual addiction.