Meta, Google and TikTok sue California over new law restricting social media features for teens under 16
Mint · Pragya Singha Roy ·
Meta, Google and TikTok have sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta, challenging a new law that restricts autoplay videos and personalised feeds for users under 16. The law, scheduled to take effect in January 2027, could impose fines of up to $50,000 per affected minor for non-compliance.
Meta, Google and TikTok are suing California Attorney General Rob Bonta in separate lawsuits over a new state law aimed at limiting potentially addictive social media features for those under 16. The companies say the law infringes on the rights to privacy and freedom of expression, as well as on their capacity to tailor their services to individual consumers, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2026, the legislation, known as Assembly Bill 1709 (AB 1709), is scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027. It bans autoplaying videos and personalized content feeds for under-16s on social media. Violating the law could cost a company up to $50,000 for each affected minor. The law requires platforms to either disable the restricted features for users under 16 or delete their accounts.
Meta, Google and TikTok challenge constitutionality of the law