California Lawmakers Advance Bill to Ban Social Media for Under 16s

Proposed law aims to protect children from harmful social media content and design features.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:37pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a social media platform's digital infrastructure, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the complex web of servers, cables, and data centers, conceptually representing the immense scale and power of these online platforms and the potential risks they pose to young users.As California lawmakers seek to limit social media access for minors, the complex digital infrastructure powering these platforms comes into focus.Today in Sacramento

California lawmakers have advanced a bill that would ban anyone under the age of 16 from having certain social media accounts. The push for tighter restrictions comes after major platforms like Meta and YouTube were found liable for harming children through their platform designs. The bill would create an e-Safety Advisory Commission to monitor implementation and oversee privacy issues.

Why it matters

This proposed legislation is part of a global effort to rein in the negative impacts of social media on children's mental health and wellbeing. If passed, it would make California the first U.S. state to impose such an age restriction, following similar bans in countries like Australia.

The details

The bipartisan bill, Assembly Bill 1709, would prohibit social media companies from allowing anyone under 16 to have accounts on their platforms. Companies that don't comply could face civil penalties. The proposed e-Safety Advisory Commission would monitor the implementation of age verification and oversee any privacy concerns. Supporters argue children lack the ability to determine what is appropriate or safe for them online, while critics say the bill could silence young voices on important social issues.

  • The bill passed through the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee on April 17, 2026 and now heads to the Judiciary.
  • The proposed age restriction would align with other restrictions placed on children, such as not being able to gamble, purchase alcohol or vote until they reach a certain age.

The players

Assembly Bill 1709

A measure introduced in the California legislature that would ban anyone under 16 from having certain social media accounts and create an e-Safety Advisory Commission.

Josh Lowenthal

The author of Assembly Bill 1709 and a California state Assemblymember who says the new regulation would protect children from the harms of social media.

Meta

The parent company of Facebook, which has been found liable for harming children through the design of its platforms.

YouTube

The video-sharing platform, which has also been found liable for harming children through the design of its platform.

Rindala Alajaji

A representative of the Electronic Frontier Foundation who argued against the bill, saying it could silence the very voices it aims to protect.

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What they’re saying

“Kids do not have the ability to determine what is appropriate or safe for them to use.”

— Josh Lowenthal, California Assemblymember

“Chief among them - the silencing of the very voices this bill aims to protect.”

— Rindala Alajaji, Electronic Frontier Foundation

“If a platform wants to change its features and implement age-appropriate designs and transform their algorithms, they can. They can carve themselves out of this bill by changing their algorithm and harmful features.”

— Josh Lowenthal, California Assemblymember

What’s next

The bill will next be considered by the California Assembly Judiciary Committee before potentially moving to a full vote in the state legislature.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation represents a significant step in the ongoing effort to protect children from the potential harms of social media. While it faces opposition from tech and youth advocacy groups, the bill's supporters argue it is necessary to ensure young people's safety and wellbeing online.