Google, Meta, and TikTok Challenge California’s Child Social Media Law in Court

Tech Giants File Lawsuits Against New California Social Media Law

Google, Meta, and TikTok have each filed lawsuits in California federal courts to block a new law scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. The law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2026, aims to protect children under 16 from addictive social media features. It prohibits platforms from offering endless scrolling, autoplay videos, and other addictive feeds to young users. Companies must also implement robust age verification measures to ensure compliance.

Central Provisions of the California Social Media Law

The statute requires technology companies to take "reasonable measures" to prevent users under 16 from accessing addictive social media features. This includes verifying users' ages to restrict access and removing specific functionalities that can encourage prolonged usage by minors. The law was introduced as part of mounting efforts to address concerns over children's mental health and well-being related to social media usage.

Legal Arguments: Free Speech and Liability Protection

In court filings lodged in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose, Google, Meta, and TikTok assert that California's law infringes on their First Amendment rights. They also claim it violates Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which shields online platforms from liability for third-party content. The companies argue that the regulation unconstitutionally restricts how information and ideas are presented and shared online.

TikTok described the law as "a blatantly unconstitutional restriction on free expression" that undermines established practices of curating content based on user preferences. Meta stated the law would require platforms to either remove features that enhance age-appropriate experiences or limit young Californians' ability to connect with family and friends. Google emphasized that parents should be responsible for their children's online experiences and highlighted its existing parental control tools and protections, warning that "overly broad laws like this actually break the systems we've built to help kids find high-quality, age-appropriate videos."

Ongoing Scrutiny of Social Media Platforms

The lawsuits emerge amid increasing scrutiny of the impact of social media and technology platforms on children and teens. Thousands of lawsuits filed by schools, governments, and individuals have targeted these companies over alleged harms to minors. In August 2026, Meta agreed to a settlement worth up to $18 billion and committed to implementing stronger child safety measures on Facebook and Instagram. This settlement resolved claims from nearly every U.S. state, stemming from concerns that Meta's platforms contributed to teen social media addiction and mental health problems through addictively designed features. TikTok also recently settled with Alabama over similar concerns.

State Response and Broader Implications

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the defendant named in each of the lawsuits, stated through his office that filings are under review and reaffirmed the state's commitment to defending laws designed to protect children online. The response underscores ongoing debates over online child safety, the scope of free expression protections, and the responsibilities of technology companies.

Looking Ahead

The outcome of these legal challenges will be closely watched, as it may influence how states and tech companies balance online safety, platform liability, and constitutional rights in the evolving landscape of social media regulation.

Source: kron4.com.