California Governor Gavin Newsom signed three bills on Monday that establish the nation's most comprehensive framework for regulating how technology companies interact with minors.
The laws, which take effect in various stages over the next few years, aim to mitigate the potential harm of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) on children. AB 56 requires social media platforms to display health warnings to users under 18, while SB 243 regulates AI companion chatbots.
AB 56 mandates that social media platforms display a skippable ten-second warning upon each daily login for minors, as well as an unskippable thirty-second warning after three hours of use. The warning repeats after each additional hour and must state that social media "can have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents."
"This is a critical step forward in protecting our children from the potential harms of social media," said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, who sponsored AB 56. "We're not trying to ban social media or restrict its use, but we are taking steps to ensure that companies are doing their part to protect kids."
SB 243 makes California the first state to regulate AI companion chatbots, which have gained popularity in recent years. The law requires companies to implement age verification and disclose that interactions with these chatbots are artificially generated.
"We're not trying to stifle innovation or progress," said Senator Nancy Skinner, who sponsored SB 243. "We just want to ensure that companies are being transparent about what they're doing and that kids are protected from potential harm."
The legislation gained momentum after the death of teenager Adam Raine, who died by suicide following conversations with OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Background on the issue is complex: AI chatbots have become increasingly sophisticated, allowing them to mimic human-like conversation. However, this can be misleading for children, particularly when they are interacting with a chatbot that claims to offer mental health support or advice.
The new laws aim to address these concerns by requiring companies to clearly disclose the artificial nature of their chatbots and prevent them from representing themselves as healthcare professionals.
While some experts have expressed concerns about the potential impact on innovation, others see the laws as a necessary step forward in protecting children's well-being.
"This is a welcome development," said Dr. Jean Twenge, a psychologist who has studied the effects of social media on adolescents. "We know that excessive screen time and social media use can be detrimental to kids' mental health, and these laws are an important step towards mitigating those risks."
The new laws take effect in various stages over the next few years, with AB 56 going into effect immediately and SB 243 taking effect January 1, 2026.
*Reporting by News.*
