Meta, Google, and TikTok have filed lawsuits to block a new California law designed to protect teens' mental health on social media. The law, set to take effect in January, aims to restrict so-called addictive features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and recommendations for users under 16. The tech giants argue that the law violates their First Amendment rights, claiming it would force the state to act as an editor of online speech. Meta's lawsuit, for instance, states that the law undermines free speech principles by giving the state control over online content.
Google, which owns YouTube, argues that the law would disrupt its efforts to provide safe and enriching experiences for under-16 users. The companies are seeking a court order to block the law before it goes into effect. Critics of the law, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, warned that it could effectively ban social media for teenagers due to its broad regulations. NetChoice, a tech industry group, also supports the lawsuits, arguing that the state cannot restrict minors' access to protected expression.
Supporters of the law, such as the Electronic Privacy Information Center, contend that courts have already rejected the industry's claims that the First Amendment shields them from accountability. The bill's passage follows a series of setbacks for the tech industry, including a $17 billion settlement Meta agreed to in August with 47 states over allegations that its products were designed to be addictive to children. A TikTok spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while a Meta spokesperson declined to attach their name to a statement.