California's Ban on Addictive Feeds for Minors Takes Effect: Tech Companies Face New Restrictions
California bans addictive social media feeds for minors.
Matilda
California's Ban on Addictive Feeds for Minors Takes Effect: Tech Companies Face New Restrictions
Late Tuesday evening, a federal judge issued a significant ruling, allowing California's recently enacted law, SB 976, to take effect. This groundbreaking legislation prohibits technology companies from serving "addictive feeds" to minors within the state, marking a crucial step towards safeguarding children from the potential harms of excessive social media use. What Does SB 976 Entail? Ban on "Addictive Feeds": The law defines "addictive feeds" as algorithms that recommend content to users based on their past behavior, rather than their explicit preferences. These algorithms are often designed to maximize user engagement, potentially leading to excessive screen time and negative mental health impacts. Parental Consent Requirement: Companies are now prohibited from serving addictive feeds to California-based minors unless they have obtained explicit parental consent. Age Verification Measures: Starting January 2027, companies will be required to implemen…
