California’s ban on addictive feeds for minors upheld

California law requires explicit parental consent for addictive feeds served to minors.

A court has upheld California’s ban on addictive feeds for minors, enforcing new rules for tech companies.

A federal judge has upheld California’s law, SB 976, which restricts companies from serving addictive content feeds to minors. The decision allows the legislation to take effect, beginning a significant shift in how social media platforms operate in the state.

Companies must now ensure that addictive feeds, defined as algorithms recommending content based on user behaviour rather than explicit preferences, are not shown to minors without parental consent. By 2027, businesses will also need to implement age assurance techniques, such as age estimation models, to identify underage users and tailor their feeds accordingly.

The tech industry group NetChoice, representing firms like Meta, Google, and X, attempted to block the law, citing First Amendment concerns. While the judge dismissed their challenge to the addictive feeds provision, certain aspects of the law, such as limits on nighttime notifications for minors, were blocked.

This ruling marks a notable step in California’s efforts to regulate the digital landscape and protect younger users from potentially harmful online content.