Making Creator Headlines · Page 1
Platforms Ask Court to Keep Their Features Out of California's Playpen
· New York time
Meta, Google and TikTok have sued California to block a law targeting what it calls psychologically exploitative social media features for children under 16. The law is set to take effect next year and would restrict social media access for that age group. The companies argue that it violates First Amendment rights and exceeds regulatory boundaries. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1709, putting the state and three major platforms on a collision course over how services for young users should operate. The lawsuits ask courts to intervene before the law takes effect, rather than waiting to challenge its enforcement later. For creators, the dispute reaches beyond a legal filing. The rules could affect how platforms offer features to younger audiences, and creators depend on those platforms to distribute their work. For families, the question is how much responsibility a service should bear for the way it holds a child's attention. The companies' objections are legal claims, not a court ruling that the law is invalid. California has written the rules, the platforms have hired lawyers, and parents are left watching a familiar contest: an industry exceptionally good at keeping users engaged would now like a judge to remain engaged with its constitutional arguments.
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