California Bill Targets Addictive Features on Social Media for Teens

California lawmakers have recently passed legislation aimed at protecting minors on social media. The bill, approved on Monday, specifically targets features deemed “addictive” for users under the age of 16. If the governor signs this bill into law, these companies would also be prohibited from auto-playing videos for teen users, among other measures.

This legislative action follows closely after Meta agreed to a substantial settlement of $18 billion. The lawsuit alleged that the company’s practices had detrimental effects on teenagers in the state.

The meeting took place in Sacramento, where the California state Senate convened to discuss and approve the bill. The aim is to safeguard young users by restricting access to certain engaging features that could potentially encourage prolonged screen time and lead to addiction.

The implications of this bill are significant. If enforced, it could change how social media platforms design and offer content to their youngest users.