Google, Meta, and TikTok challenge in court the California law that limits social media features for children under 16

Google, Meta Platforms and TikTok have sued the state of California, seeking to block a law that limits social media use by children under 16. The lawsuits were filed Wednesday in federal courts in San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and the companies argue that the law violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and parents’ rights.

The law, known as Assembly Bill 1709, prohibits platforms from offering minors features considered likely to cause addiction, such as personalized content recommendations and autoplay videos. In addition, the companies would be required to remove children’s accounts that use such features.

Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, says authorities cannot control editorial decisions concerning the selection and display of billions of posts published by users. Google, the owner of YouTube, and TikTok are making similar arguments and citing federal legislation that limits platforms’ liability for third-party content.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law on September 10, arguing that protecting children must be a priority. The measure has also been criticized by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which warns of risks to privacy and freedom of expression.

The dispute is part of a broader conflict over the effects of social media on minors. The platforms are facing thousands of lawsuits accusing them of encouraging addiction and mental health problems.