California Bill Could Ban Social Media for Teens Under 16 | Meta, YouTube, Snapchat Under Fire

California lawmakers are considering a bill that would prohibit social media platforms from allowing users under the age of 16 to create or maintain accounts, escalating a debate over the platforms’ impact on youth mental health. Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, a Democrat from Long Beach, introduced the bipartisan legislation on Thursday, adding another layer of scrutiny for companies like Meta, YouTube, and Snapchat.

The proposed law arrives as tech giants face mounting criticism and legal challenges regarding the well-being of young users. Last month, executives including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in a Los Angeles trial centered on allegations that social media is intentionally addictive and harmful to children. The case questions whether companies like Instagram and YouTube can be held liable for promoting a product that allegedly negatively impacts users.

Concerns have grown as social networks and artificial intelligence chatbots become increasingly integrated into daily life, fueling anxiety among parents, and legislators. The legislation specifically cites dangers such as “exposure to harmful content, compulsive use patterns, exploitation, and adverse impacts on mental health and well-being.” It argues that current age-based restrictions, which rely on users self-attesting to their age, are ineffective.

California has previously attempted to regulate social media and chatbot safety, but those efforts have faced legal challenges from the tech industry. Companies have responded to concerns by implementing more parental controls and restrictions for younger users. However, proponents of stricter measures argue these steps are insufficient.

The move in California follows a similar action in Australia last year, which banned social media accounts for children under 16. Pinterest CEO Bill Ready recently advocated for governments to follow Australia’s lead, arguing in a TIME op-ed that social media, “as it’s configured today, is not safe for young people under 16,” and is designed to maximize screen time at the expense of user well-being.

TechNet, a trade association representing Meta and Google, stated it has not yet taken a position on the California bill but expressed skepticism that a ban would effectively achieve the legislature’s goals. Robert Boykin, TechNet Executive Director for California and the Southwest, said in a statement that the organization supports “balanced, evidence-based solutions that strengthen protections for young people, equip parents with meaningful tools, and ensure accountability across platforms.” He added that member companies have “made significant investments in teen safety and parental controls.”

The bill states that existing age verification methods “place an unreasonable burden on children and families rather than on the entities that design, operate, and profit from social media platforms.” A spokesman for Assemblymember Lowenthal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.