California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a package of new laws intended to reduce risks to children associated with social media and AI chatbots. The measures, signed on Thursday, regulate how certain online platforms and AI-driven services interact with minors.
Several outlets report that one bill would bar specified platforms from using an “addictive feature” for users under 16. Other provisions focus on the use of AI chatbots and youth-facing online experiences. Coverage also notes that the overall rules are widely described as sweeping or “landmark,” but are not universally supported, with some critics raising concerns about implementation or broader impacts.
Across the reports, the core aim is consistent: creating additional protections for minors in California’s digital environment. While the exact set of bills is described with varying levels of detail by different outlets, they converge on the same themes—restricting targeted design features for younger users and applying new requirements to AI chatbot behavior and oversight.
