Tech Giants Sue California Over Law Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Features for Teens
Meta, Google, and TikTok have filed lawsuits to block a new California law aimed at protecting the mental health of teenagers on social media platforms. The law, slated to take effect in January, prohibits social media companies from offering 'addictive' features, such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and personalized recommendations, to users under 16. These features are identified as contributors to a teen mental health crisis. The tech companies argue that this legislation infringes upon their First Amendment rights, asserting that the state cannot restrict minors' access to protected expression. NetChoice, a tech industry group, supports these lawsuits, stating that the law makes the state 'the editor, curator, and controller of online speech.' Conversely, supporters like the Electronic Privacy Information Center contend that courts have previously rejected claims that the First Amendment shields these companies from accountability.
