California has banned addictive algorithms and features on social media targeted at minors. This legislation represents, according to the law itself, the country's strictest regulations for companion chatbots.
The new law restricts access for minors under 16 to specific social media features. Among the restrictions are automatic content playback and algorithmic feeds that are personalized based on users' history and profiles.
The main objective of this legislation is to protect young people from the potential negative effects these features can have on their development and well-being. Algorithmic feeds, in particular, have been associated with patterns of excessive and potentially harmful use among teenagers.
With this measure, California positions itself at the forefront of social media regulation for minors in the United States, setting a precedent that may influence other jurisdictions to adopt similar measures to protect youth online.
