California enacts digital platform regulations to protect minors

California has enacted a suite of 13 laws aimed at regulating digital platforms and protecting children and adolescents online. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, the legislation focuses on preventing addictive behaviors rather than setting a specific minimum age for social media use.

The laws prohibit features designed to encourage compulsive use, such as infinite scrolling and the autoplay of videos. Additionally, platforms are banned from using behavioral profiling to recommend content to users under 16 and are prohibited from targeting this demographic with directed advertising.

Specific provisions also address artificial intelligence, requiring mandatory parental controls and notification systems if safety features are disabled. The legislation includes protocols for handling queries related to suicide, a measure prompted by tragic incidents involving chatbot interactions.

California's move aligns with global trends in the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, and Brazil. As a major hub for technology, California's regulatory framework may serve as a model for future national legislation in the United States.