In a significant move to protect children from the dangers of social media addiction, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law on September 21, 2024, that will make it illegal for social media platforms to knowingly provide addictive feeds to minors without parental consent. This law, which will take effect in 2027, prohibits notifications to children between midnight and 6 AM, as well as during school hours from 8 AM to 3 PM on weekdays. Additionally, it mandates that children's accounts be set to private by default, ensuring a higher level of privacy for young users [aa849357].
This legislation aligns with similar laws passed in New York and Utah, reflecting a growing trend among states to address the issue of social media addiction among youth. The law defines an 'addictive feed' as content that is recommended based on user information, highlighting the need for greater scrutiny of how social media algorithms operate [aa849357]. State Senator Nancy Skinner emphasized the importance of this legislation, stating that it is crucial to protect children from the potential harms associated with excessive social media use [aa849357].
In addition to California's efforts, Australia, China, and the US have been taking steps to safeguard children from inappropriate online content. The eSafety Commissioner in Australia has given the internet industry six months to create an enforceable code aimed at preventing children from accessing pornography and other harmful material online. This code will establish standards for various online platforms, including age verification and parental controls [33df4138].
China has launched a two-month 'Clear and Bright' campaign to purge harmful content from its internet, targeting platforms that promote school bullying, violent content, and sexually suggestive products. The government has also limited online gaming time for minors to combat addiction [9ffc9d4b].
Meanwhile, the US Senate has passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which aim to protect children from online dangers such as sexual predators and harmful content. These bills establish a 'duty of care' for online platforms to shield minors from toxic content and require companies to provide a dedicated page for reporting harmful material [5526eb87].
The collective efforts of California, Australia, China, and the US underscore a global recognition of the need to protect children from the negative impacts of social media and online content. As governments and tech companies work together to implement these measures, the focus remains on creating a safer digital environment for children worldwide [898bbecd].