Sacramento Stockton Modesto, CA, September 10, 2026 —

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California has enacted new legislation aimed at protecting minors from potentially harmful social media practices. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1709 into law, which prohibits technology companies from providing certain features on their platforms that are considered ‘addictive’ to children in the state.

The new law, Assembly Bill 1709, was signed by Governor Newsom, marking a significant step in state-level regulation of social media’s impact on young users. The legislation targets features designed to be habit-forming, with the stated intent of safeguarding the mental and developmental well-being of children in California.

While the bill establishes a prohibition on offering these specific types of features to minors, the trend summary does not detail which particular social media features are classified as ‘addictive’ under the law, nor does it name the specific tech companies that will be affected. The scope of the prohibition and the exact definitions used to identify these ‘addictive’ features were not provided in the summary.

The law’s passage signifies a growing concern among lawmakers regarding the design and influence of social media platforms on younger demographics. Further details regarding the implementation timeline, enforcement mechanisms, and potential penalties for non-compliance were not specified in the available information.

Assembly Bill 1709 represents one of several legislative efforts across the country and globally to address the complex relationship between technology, children’s health, and online safety. The long-term implications for tech companies operating in California and the broader social media landscape are yet to be fully determined.



Story summarized from the original created by Brett Stover on fox40.com, see more information here.

About The Author
SignalNewsAI