Meta, Google, TikTok sue over California teen social media law

Three giants challenge California law

Meta, Google and TikTok have each filed lawsuits against California Attorney General Rob Bonta to block AB 1709, a law restricting social media features deemed addictive for users under sixteen.

What the law requires

AB 1709, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September, takes effect at the start of the new year. It prohibits autoplay videos and personalized feeds for users under sixteen.

Penalties for non-compliance

Platforms must delete accounts of users under sixteen who refuse to turn off restricted features. Non-compliance carries fines of up to fifty thousand dollars per affected user under sixteen.

Meta's First Amendment argument

Meta claims AB 1709 violates the First Amendment by overriding its editorial decisions about content display. The company argues Section 230 preempts the law. TikTok and Google made similar arguments.

“The Act would make it unlawful for Meta to disseminate speech to minors altogether, and would require Meta to delete minors' accounts, unless it changes these practices.”

TikTok's free expression claim

TikTok called AB 1709 a blatantly unconstitutional restriction on free expression that erodes the protected practice of curating content based on user preferences, which bookstores, TV networks and streaming services all use.

“AB 1709 is a blatantly unconstitutional restriction on free expression that erodes the long-standing and protected practice of curating content based on user preferences.”

Privacy advocates' surveillance concern

The Electronic Frontier Foundation warns the law compels platforms to collect more user data for age verification, invading everyone's privacy and concentrating power in tech companies' hands rather than protecting users.

“AB 1709 compels platforms to collect even more information from every user, invading everyone's privacy and frustrating our ability to remain anonymous online.”

Youth activism at stake, EFF argues

EFF Associate Director Rindala Alajaji said teenagers' social media use enabled impactful activism like the Parkland survivors' March for Our Lives and Greta Thunberg's climate reach. The law silences young voices.

“As a functional ban on social media for youth under 16, AB 1709 cuts young people off from essential information and experiences, silencing the very voices it claims to protect.”

Global context for the fight

Australia banned social media for users under sixteen in December 2025.France passed a similar law but its top court struck it down citing free expression concerns.

Attorney General vows to defend law

A representative for Attorney General Bonta said his office is reviewing the filings and is committed to defending California's commonsense laws to protect kids online.