Google, Meta Platforms, and TikTok filed separate lawsuits on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, to block a California law intended to reduce social media addiction among minors. The law, Assembly Bill 1709, prohibits platforms from providing "psychologically exploitative features" to users under the age of 16, including algorithmic recommendations and autoplaying videos. It also requires the removal of accounts for young users that incorporate these tools.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation on September 10, 2026, stating that California "will not stand by while unregulated technology puts our children at risk." The companies filed their challenges in federal courts in San Jose, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. On Thursday, November 5, the office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the defendant in the cases, stated it was reviewing the challenges and remains committed to defending laws that protect children online.
The tech companies, which include Alphabet subsidiary Google, Facebook and Instagram operator Meta, and ByteDance-owned TikTok, argue the law violates the First Amendment and Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda stated on Thursday that the law is overly broad and interferes with systems designed to help children find age-appropriate content. Meta argued the state cannot override its editorial curation of posts, while TikTok claimed protected speech cannot be suppressed based on what a legislative body deems unsuitable for youth.
The legal challenge centers on whether a state can regulate the design and delivery of online content without violating federal speech protections. For the social media companies involved, the stakes include the potential loss of engagement features. Furthermore, the Electronic Frontier Foundation characterized the law as "a massive privacy and free speech nightmare." While the scale of financial impact of this specific law is not detailed, a separate settlement in August saw Meta agree to pay up to $18 billion to resolve state-level accusations regarding teen usage and privacy.
The lawsuits also come as other states and countries consider or implement youth online safety regulations, such as a ban on social media for children under 16 in Australia. Beyond these specific challenges to Assembly Bill 1709, the companies and Snap Inc. face thousands of additional lawsuits from school districts and individuals who allege the platforms caused a mental health crisis among youth. Unless a judge voids the law or issues a stay, Assembly Bill 1709 is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Future court dates for these three new lawsuits have not yet been reported.