California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a groundbreaking bill that is set to transform the way minors interact with social media in the state. One of the most significant consequences of this legislation is a potential overhaul of the popular TikTok "For You Page" as we know it today.
The bill, SB976, is slated to come into effect in 2027, in a state that is home to many of the world's leading tech giants, including Silicon Valley. The legislation has two key components. Firstly, it prohibits social media platforms from providing personalized feeds to minors without parental consent. Secondly, it bars social media platforms from sending notifications to minors (without parental approval) during late night and early morning hours, as well as during school hours on weekdays.
In essence, minors' feeds would need to be presented in chronological order, featuring only content from accounts they follow. This would effectively mark the end of algorithm-driven feeds, such as TikTok's "For You Page", which uses user data to recommend content.
“Every parent is acutely aware of the harm that social media addiction can inflict on their children – from social isolation and anxiety to countless hours wasted late into the night,” Newsom stated, as reported by the Associated Press. “With this bill, California is taking a crucial step towards protecting children and teenagers from deliberately designed features that perpetuate these destructive habits.”
It is worth noting that the law makes the aforementioned actions towards minors illegal “unless the operator does not have actual knowledge that the user is a minor.” This seems to leave some room for minors who manage to circumvent potential regulations. However, the bill's authors emphasize that the state's attorney general will need to implement age verification and parental consent regulations by 2027, although the specifics of these measures remain unclear.
Notably, TikTok is currently embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle with the U.S. government, which may ultimately determine its fate in the American market. Regardless of the social media landscape in a few years, this law would fundamentally alter how platforms operate, and could have far-reaching implications for the industry as a whole. For more information, visit carsnewstoday.com.
The Los Angeles Times has shed light on the bill's diverse coalition of opponents, including the ACLU of California, Equality California, and industry groups representing tech giants such as TikTok and Meta. In light of the far-reaching consequences this legislation would have on minors' social media habits, it is wise to expect a lengthy and contentious legal battle to ensue between now and 2027.
