Gov. Newsom Signs Adam's Law, Establishing Protections for Children Using AI Chatbots
The package adds child-safety audits for AI chatbots and limits addictive social media features for users under 16, officials said.
- On Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed 13 bills regulating social media and AI for users under 16, prohibiting addictive features like infinite scrolling and algorithmic autoplay to protect children's mental health.
- One measure, nicknamed 'Adam's Law,' honors 16-year-old Adam Raine, who died by suicide in 2025 after ChatGPT coaching; his mother Maria Raine stated the laws 'will save lives and prevent other serious harms.'
- Meta previously agreed to a $17 billion settlement in August for allegedly addictive design features, while Anthropic officially backed the new bill; critics warn enforcement remains legally complex.
- Cal State Long Beach professor Marwa Azab called the laws a positive step but emphasized 'the burden is more on the adults' to scaffold children's development amid competing technology pressures.
- Implementation is expected by Jan. 1, 2027; Oakland Democratic lawmaker Buffy Wicks notes lawmakers must monitor for loopholes as technology often advances faster than regulatory oversight.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Teenagers in California will be banned from accessing social media products considered "addictive" and will be restricted in their interactions with artificial intelligence chatbots, under two of the 13 bills signed by Governor Gavin Newsom to protect children online. The legislation on addictive social media is [...]
The AI Transparency Act already applies in California and Newsom now signs an order that impacts minors.
Amid growing concern about the effects of artificial intelligence on children, California is taking serious steps to protect future generations. Signing up to see the future today reveals unmissable innovations from the edge of science and technology. AI labs appear to be in a race to siphon off the impressionable minds of underage users. For years, we have witnessed individuals under 18 becoming obsessed with AI companions, a disturbing trend t…
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