Google, Meta and TikTok have sued California separately over a new state law that prevents children under 16 from using social media features that may be addictive. They say the legislation violates their constitutional rights and gives the government too much control over how online content is organized and displayed.
The legal challenges target California’s Assembly Bill 1709 (AB 1709) which bars platforms from providing certain features to users under age 16 such as personalized content recommendations and autoplay videos.
The law was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on September 10, 2026 and is set to take effect January 1, 2027.
The lawsuits are another major step in the debate over children’s online safety, social media addiction and responsibility of technology companies.
What Does California's New Child Safety Law Say?
California’s AB 1709 limits social media features lawmakers think encourage compulsive use by children.
The legislation targets features that keep nudging users to consume content (so it’s harder for younger audiences to control their screen time).
Some of the features covered by the law include:
- Personalised recommendations: Algorithms that suggest content based on users’ interests and activity.
- Autoplay videos: Features that automatically play the next video without requiring a user to make another selection.
- Addictive content feeds: Platform features that drive prolonged and repeated engagement.
Platform features that drive prolonged and repeated engagement are called addictive content feeds.
The law also requires platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users’ ages and restrict access to prohibited features for those under 16.
Platforms need to also deal with accounts belonging to underage users that are still able to access restricted features.
The law is part of California’s broader effort to shore up online protections for children as concerns about excessive social media use grow.
Why are Google, Meta and TikTok challenging the law?
The three technology companies say California’s legislation violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech.
Their main argument is that organising, recommending and displaying content are editorial decisions. The companies say the government shouldn’t tell platforms how to arrange information and content for their users.
Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) said in its legal complaint that the state could not overrule editorial decisions about how billions of third party posts were curated and displayed.
Google (which owns YouTube) and TikTok have also raised similar concerns.
The companies also say the legislation violates parents’ ability to decide what content and online experiences are appropriate for their children.
They have asked whether the restrictions would undermine parental controls and safety features already present on their platforms.
Companies Also Raise Concerns Over Section 230
Apart from First Amendment, the companies have challenged legislation under Section 230 of Communications Decency Act of 1996.
Section 230 gives online platforms certain legal protections against liability for content posted by third parties.
The companies say California’s law violates these federal protections because it tries to regulate how platforms distribute and recommend third-party content.
The legal arguments will force courts to ask how state-level child safety regulations fit into federal internet law and constitutional protections.
The lawsuits don’t mean the legislation has been overturned. It is still scheduled to be implemented on January 1, 2027 unless a court intervenes.
What Have Google, Meta and TikTok Said?
Each company has countered by saying the law would affect content access and existing safety measures.
Meta: The company says that the legislation interferes with its editorial decisions and could force it to remove features used to organise and display content for younger users.
Google: “Parents are best positioned to make decisions for their families. We’ve also said that overly broad restrictions could disrupt systems designed to help children access age-appropriate videos.”
TikTok: The company has said the legislation is an unconstitutional restriction on free expression and that content curation based on user preferences is a common practice across different forms of media.
The companies say they already have several safety tools and parental controls for younger users.
California Government Defends the Child Safety Legislation
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1709 in September saying protecting children should be at the core of discussions about technology.
The state says online platforms need to shoulder more responsibility for features that could expose younger users to harmful patterns of engagement.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said it was reviewing the lawsuits but remained committed to defending state laws that protect children online.
The outcome of these legal challenges could determine how far state governments can go in regulating social media platforms and their design features.
Social Media Companies Face Growing Child Safety Lawsuits
The legal battles come as major technology companies are increasingly being scrutinised over how social media affects children’s mental health.
Meta, Google, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance and Snap have been sued by individuals, school districts and government bodies in the thousands.
The lawsuits say certain platform features were designed to encourage excessive use by younger users (anxiety, depression and other mental health problems), among others.
The companies have fought back against claims that their platforms caused a broader youth mental health crisis.
In August 2026 Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion under agreements with almost all US states that had brought claims around children’s safety, privacy and consumer protection.
TikTok has also settled with Alabama over allegations about addictive platform features.
These developments signal increasing legal and regulatory pressure on social media companies to show how they protect younger users.
What Happens Next?
Google, Meta and TikTok’s lawsuits will put California’s child safety legislation before the courts.
Google filed in federal court in San Jose, Meta filed in San Francisco and TikTok filed in Los Angeles.
The key issue will be whether California can prohibit certain social media features for children under 16 without violating the constitutional protections of free speech and distribution of information.
The outcome could have wider ramifications too governments around the world are considering stronger rules on children’s access to social media.
For now the dispute shows how online child protection, parental authority, digital privacy and rights of technology companies to design their platforms are all coming into tension.
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