California Tech Giants Sue to Block New Social Media Law Protecting Teens
Tech giants Meta, Google, and TikTok have filed lawsuits to prevent a new California law, designed to protect the mental health of children on social media platforms, from taking effect. The law, part of a series of bills signed by Governor Newsom this year, aims to block social media companies from offering 'addictive' features to users under 16. These features include infinite scroll, autoplay, and recommendation algorithms, which are cited as contributors to a teen mental health crisis. The lawsuits, filed in multiple federal courts in California last week, argue that the law infringes upon the companies' First Amendment rights. They contend that the law would make the state an 'editor, curator, and controller of online speech' and would hinder efforts to provide safe and enriching experiences for young users. The companies are seeking court intervention to block the law before its January effective date.
