Google, Meta and TikTok last week filed three separate but coordinated lawsuits against California, seeking to block a new law meant to protect children and teens on social media. The law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September, bars tech companies from offering children under 16 'addictive' feeds, endless scrolling and autoplaying videos. It is due to take effect on January 1, 2027, unless a court puts it on hold.
The companies argue the law violates free speech under the First Amendment because it interferes with how they choose to present content. Meta argues California cannot override its editorial judgment about how to arrange and display billions of posts. The companies also argue the law replaces parents' decisions with state restrictions. The office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta said it is reviewing the suits.
The background: in recent years there has been growing recognition that how networks are built, not just their content, affects children. Infinite feeds, notifications and algorithms that learn exactly what will keep you one more minute were designed to increase usage. Various US states and countries have tried to limit these mechanisms, and tech companies are fighting them in court. In August Meta agreed to settlements worth up to $18 billion with nearly every US state over claims related to child safety and privacy.
Why does it matter to Israel? Because what US courts decide will shape how apps are built worldwide. If the law stands, companies may change their products for teens, not just in California. Meanwhile, parents in Israel need not wait for legislation: Screen Time on iPhone, Google Family Link on Android, YouTube's supervised account settings and, above all, open conversation with children already do much of the work.
