By Ricardo Roura
A bill that would prohibit the use of social networks for minors under 16 years of age advances among California legislators.
AB 1709, introduced by Assemblyman Josh Lowenthal (D-Prolonged Seaside), establishes ban on social media platforms allow users under 16 years of age to create or maintain accounts in their applications.
The bill would also require social networks to implement reasonable measures to prevent users under 16 years of age access or use accounts on their platforms.
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Assemblyman Lowenthal’s proposal comes after a jury found YouTube and Meta guilty of negligence in a lawsuit that alleged the companies targeted minors through addictive design features.
According to supporters of AB 1709, the measure is urgently needed to address the impact of social media on adolescent mental health.
“Negative impacts are seen, the consequences they are having on the development of our childrenso we are going to take action,” declared Assemblyman Lowenthal in an interview with the KTLA network.
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According to the assemblyman, the proposal seeks to hold social media companies responsible for the design of their platforms and not punish teenagers.
The initiative has bipartisan support, with several Republican assemblymen joining Democrats to support the proposal.
California Governor Gavin Newsomhas shown a receptive attitude to the bill, while technology industry groups and other organizations have spoken out against Assemblyman Lowenthal’s proposal.
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According to the action section of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Californiarestrictions on access to social networks could isolate adolescents aged 16 and under from the main communication and community spaces that they currently have.
If the bill is approved, California would not be the first place to implement these types of restrictions.
Australia banned young people under 16 from having social media accounts, while Florida recently enacted a similar law for teenagersalthough it faces constant legal challenges from technology industry groups.
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